Psalm 139

The All-Knowing, Ever-Present God

For the choir director. A psalm of David.

Lord, you have searched me and known me.(A)
You know when I sit down and when I stand up;
you understand my thoughts from far away.(B)
You observe my travels and my rest;
you are aware of all my ways.(C)
Before a word is on my tongue,
you know all about it, Lord.(D)
You have encircled me;
you have placed your hand on me.(E)
This wondrous knowledge is beyond me.
It is lofty; I am unable to reach it.(F)

Where can I go to escape your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?(G)
If I go up to heaven, you are there;(H)
if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there.(I)
If I fly on the wings of the dawn
and settle down on the western horizon,[a]
10 even there your hand will lead me;
your right hand will hold on to me.(J)
11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me,
and the light around me will be night”(K)
12 even the darkness is not dark to you.
The night shines like the day;
darkness and light are alike to you.(L)

13 For it was you who created my inward parts;[b]
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.(M)
14 I will praise you
because I have been remarkably and wondrously made.[c][d]
Your works are wondrous,
and I know this very well.(N)
15 My bones were not hidden from you
when I was made in secret,
when I was formed in the depths of the earth.(O)
16 Your eyes saw me when I was formless;
all my days were written in your book and planned
before a single one of them began.(P)

17 God, how precious[e] your thoughts are to me;
how vast their sum is!
18 If I counted them,
they would outnumber the grains of sand;(Q)
when I wake up,[f] I am still with you.(R)

19 God, if only you would kill the wicked—
you bloodthirsty men, stay away from me(S)
20 who invoke you deceitfully.
Your enemies swear by you falsely.(T)
21 Lord, don’t I hate those who hate you,
and detest those who rebel against you?
22 I hate them with extreme hatred;
I consider them my enemies.(U)

23 Search me, God, and know my heart;
test me and know my concerns.(V)
24 See if there is any offensive[g] way in me;
lead me in the everlasting way.(W)

Footnotes

  1. 139:9 Lit the end of the sea
  2. 139:13 Lit my kidneys
  3. 139:14 DSS, some LXX mss, Syr, Jer read because you are remarkable and wonderful
  4. 139:14 Hb obscure
  5. 139:17 Or difficult
  6. 139:18 Some Hb mss read I come to an end
  7. 139:24 Or idolatrous

30 A tranquil heart is life to the body,(A)
but jealousy is rottenness to the bones.(B)

31 The one who oppresses the poor person insults his Maker,(C)
but one who is kind to the needy honors him.(D)

Read full chapter

The Messiah’s Herald

The beginning(A) of the gospel(B) of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.[a](C) As it is written in Isaiah(D) the prophet:[b](E)

See, I am sending my messenger(F) ahead of you;
he will prepare your way.[c][d] (G)
A voice of one crying out in the wilderness:(H)
Prepare the way for the Lord;(I)
make his paths straight![e](J)

John came baptizing[f](K) in the wilderness(L) and proclaiming a baptism of repentance(M) for the forgiveness(N) of sins.(O) The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem(P) were going out to him, and they were baptized by him in the Jordan(Q) River, confessing(R) their sins.(S) John wore a camel-hair garment with a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts(T) and wild honey.(U)

He proclaimed, “One who is more powerful(V) than I am is coming after me.(W) I am not worthy(X) to stoop down and untie the strap of his sandals.(Y) I baptize you with[g] water,(Z) but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”(AA)

The Baptism of Jesus

In(AB) those days Jesus came from Nazareth(AC) in Galilee(AD) and was baptized in the Jordan by John. 10 As soon as he came up out of the water, he saw the heavens(AE) being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11 And a voice(AF) came from heaven:(AG) “You are my beloved(AH) Son;(AI) with you I am well-pleased.”(AJ)

The Temptation of Jesus

12 Immediately(AK) the Spirit(AL) drove(AM) him into the wilderness.(AN) 13 He was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted(AO) by Satan.(AP) He was with the wild animals,(AQ) and the angels(AR) were serving him.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 1:1 Some mss omit the Son of God
  2. 1:2 Other mss read in the prophets
  3. 1:2 Other mss add before you
  4. 1:2 Mal 3:1
  5. 1:3 Is 40:3
  6. 1:4 Or John the Baptist came
  7. 1:8 Or in

Bible Gateway Recommends

CSB Military Bible, Navy Blue LeatherTouch for Sailors
CSB Military Bible, Navy Blue LeatherTouch for Sailors
Retail: $24.99
Our Price: $14.29
Save: $10.70 (43%)
5.0 of 5.0 stars
CSB Kids Bible--soft leather-look, brown with lion
CSB Kids Bible--soft leather-look, brown with lion
Retail: $29.99
Our Price: $17.14
Save: $12.85 (43%)
5.0 of 5.0 stars
CSB Explorer Bible for Kids--soft leather-look, brown mountains
CSB Explorer Bible for Kids--soft leather-look, brown mountains
Retail: $44.99
Our Price: $25.81
Save: $19.18 (43%)
CSB Experiencing God Bible--genuine leather, black
CSB Experiencing God Bible--genuine leather, black
Retail: $89.99
Our Price: $58.99
Save: $31.00 (34%)
5.0 of 5.0 stars