Psalm 139:2

Translations

Modern

You know when I sit and when I rise; You understand my thoughts from afar.

Traditional

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

Literal

You know my sitting down and my rising up; You discern my thought from afar.

Latin

…tu cognovisti sessionem meam et resurrectionem meam.

Original

Hebrew

English

You know when I sit and when I rise; You understand my thoughts from afar.

Notes

Psalms 139:2

The phrase when I sit and when I rise refers to everyday activities (compare Deuteronomy 6:6–9).

Psalms 139:1–6

The Lord knows the psalmist well. God has examined him closely, in a thorough examination that can be painful at times (Job 7:17–19).

Psalms 139:1–24

In this wisdom psalm, the psalmist opens every part of his life to God. He invites God to examine his thoughts, actions, and words. Even though life is difficult, he wants to grow in wisdom so that he does not share in the judgment of the wicked (Psalm 141:5; 142:3; 143:8, 10; 144:3–4).

The psalmist also knows that he cannot escape from the Lord. His stress fades as he remembers that God has cared for him with love, even before he was born (Psalm 139:13–18). He ends by asking God to keep examining him and to guide him on the path of wisdom (Psalm 139:23–24).

Psalms 138:1–145:21

In this final group of psalms of David, psalms of praise and wisdom (Psalms 138–139, 145) form a frame around five psalms of lament (Psalms 140–144).

Theme notes and profiles

David God’s Uniqueness The Cloud and Fire The Heart in the Psalms Wisdom Psalms

Related verses

Matthew 9:4
But Jesus knew what they were thinking and said, “Why do you harbor evil in your hearts?
2 Kings 19:27
But I know your sitting down, your going out and coming in, and your raging against Me.
Isaiah 37:28
But I know your sitting down, your going out and coming in, and your raging against Me.
Psalm 94:11
The LORD knows the thoughts of man, that they are futile.
Luke 9:47
But Jesus, knowing the thoughts of their hearts, had a little child stand beside Him.
John 2:24–25
But Jesus did not entrust Himself to them, for He knew them all.
Proverbs 15:3
The eyes of the LORD are in every place, observing the evil and the good.
Zechariah 4:10
For who has despised the day of small things? But these seven eyes of the LORD, which scan the whole earth, will rejoice when they see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel.”
Psalm 56:8
You have taken account of my wanderings. Put my tears in Your bottle—are they not in Your book?
2 Kings 6:12
But one of his servants replied, “No one, my lord the king. For Elisha, the prophet in Israel, tells the king of Israel the very words you speak in your bedroom.”
Genesis 16:13
So Hagar gave this name to the LORD who had spoken to her: “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “Here I have seen the One who sees me!”
1 Corinthians 4:5
Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.

Glossary

Foreknowledge God, Being and Attributes of God, Names of Imprecatory Psalms Music Psalms, Book of

Topics

God is Declared to Be: Omniscient God: Knowledge of Heart: Known to God The Heart: God: Understands the Thoughts of The Providence of God is all Pervading The Wisdom of God: Exhibited in Knowing: The Actions The Wisdom of God: Exhibited in Understanding the Thoughts

Psalm 139:2

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