Psalms 139

O Lord, thou hast searched me, and known me.

Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.

Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.

For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether.

Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.

Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?

If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.

If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;

Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.

If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.

Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.

For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb.

I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.

My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.

Thine 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.

How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!

If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.

Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: depart from me therefore, ye bloody men.

For they speak against thee wickedly, and thine enemies take thy name in vain.

Do not I hate them, O Lord, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?

I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies.

Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:

And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

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Psalms 139:23

“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:”

The psalmist's invitation for God to search his heart and know his thoughts establishes an openness to divine scrutiny that demonstrates confidence in the integrity of his faith and his fundamental alignment with God's values despite passionate expressions of enmity toward God's enemies. This verse suggests that the psalmist's intense emotions regarding God's enemies do not constitute rebellion or unfaithfulness but rather flow from authentic devotion to God, making him willing to submit to divine examination that will vindicate his integrity. The parallel between searching the heart and knowing thoughts establishes the comprehensiveness of God's knowledge and the impossibility of hiding anything from divine scrutiny, creating the foundation for absolute confidence in God's judgment regarding the psalmist's character and motives. By inviting this divine examination, the psalmist demonstrates trust that God will perceive the authenticity of his faith and the purity of his motives, even given the intensity of his hatred toward those opposed to God.

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Psalms 139:23

“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:”

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