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Psalms 139
Highlighted words differ from the KJV. Most differences are matters of wording, style or the age of the English, not of meaning; a few reflect different manuscripts.
- 1KJVTo the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me.WEBFor the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David. Yahweh, you have searched me, and you know me.
- 2KJVThou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.WEBYou know my sitting down and my rising up. You perceive my thoughts from afar.
- 3KJVThou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.WEBYou search out my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways.
- 4KJVFor there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.WEBFor there is not a word on my tongue, but behold, Yahweh, you know it altogether.
- 5KJVThou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.WEBYou hem me in behind and before. You laid your hand on me.
- 6KJVSuch knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.WEBThis knowledge is beyond me. It’s lofty. I can’t attain it.
- 7KJVWhither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?WEBWhere could I go from your Spirit? Or where could I flee from your presence?
- 8KJVIf I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.WEBIf I ascend up into heaven, you are there. If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, you are there!
- 9KJVIf I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;WEBIf I take the wings of the dawn, and settle in the uttermost parts of the sea,
- 10KJVEven there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.WEBeven there your hand will lead me, and your right hand will hold me.
- 11KJVIf I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.WEBIf I say, “Surely the darkness will overwhelm me. The light around me will be night,”
- 12KJVYea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.WEBeven the darkness doesn’t hide from you, but the night shines as the day. The darkness is like light to you.
- 13KJVFor thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb.WEBFor you formed my inmost being. You knit me together in my mother’s womb.
- 14KJVI will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.WEBI will give thanks to you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful. My soul knows that very well.
- 15KJVMy substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.WEBMy frame wasn’t hidden from you, when I was made in secret, woven together in the depths of the earth.
- 16KJVThine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.WEBYour eyes saw my body. In your book they were all written, the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there were none of them.
- 17KJVHow precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!WEBHow precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is their sum!
- 18KJVIf I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.WEBIf I would count them, they are more in number than the sand. When I wake up, I am still with you.
- 19KJVSurely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: depart from me therefore, ye bloody men.WEBIf only you, God, would kill the wicked. Get away from me, you bloodthirsty men!
- 20KJVFor they speak against thee wickedly, and thine enemies take thy name in vain.WEBFor they speak against you wickedly. Your enemies take your name in vain.
- 21KJVDo not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?WEBYahweh, don’t I hate those who hate you? Am I not grieved with those who rise up against you?
- 22KJVI hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies.WEBI hate them with perfect hatred. They have become my enemies.
- 23KJVSearch me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:WEBSearch me, God, and know my heart. Try me, and know my thoughts.
- 24KJVAnd see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.WEBSee if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way.
- King James Version (1769 text), public domain outside the United Kingdom, where Crown letters patent apply.
- World English Bible (WEB), public domain. “World English Bible” is a trademark of eBible.org.