Psalm 139:4

Translations

Modern

Even before a word is on my tongue, You know all about it, O LORD.

Traditional

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

Literal

For there is not a word on my tongue—behold, O YHWH, You have known it all.

Latin

…et omnes vias meas prævidisti, quia non est sermo in lingua mea.

Original

Hebrew

English

Even before a word is on my tongue, You know all about it, O LORD.

Notes

Psalms 139:3–6

The Lord's all-knowing and all-powerful nature provides comfort to the godly, but it troubles the wicked (Psalm 2:3).

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

Hebrews 4:12–13
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it pierces even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Psalm 19:14
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.
Psalm 50:19–21
You unleash your mouth for evil and harness your tongue to deceit.
Job 42:3
You asked, ‘Who is this who conceals My counsel without knowledge?’ Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know.
Matthew 12:35–37
The good man brings good things out of his good store of treasure, and the evil man brings evil things out of his evil store of treasure.
Job 42:6–8
Therefore I despise myself, and I repent in dust and ashes.”
Malachi 3:13–16
“Your words against Me have been harsh,” says the LORD. “Yet you ask, ‘What have we spoken against You?’
Jeremiah 29:23
For they have committed an outrage in Israel by committing adultery with the wives of their neighbors and speaking lies in My name, which I did not command them to do. I am He who knows, and I am a witness, declares the LORD.”
James 1:26
If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not bridle his tongue, he deceives his heart and his religion is worthless.
James 3:2–10
We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to control his whole body.
Job 8:2
“How long will you go on saying such things? The words of your mouth are a blustering wind.
Job 38:2
“Who is this who obscures My counsel by words without knowledge?

Glossary

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

Topics

God is Declared to Be: Omniscient God: Knowledge of Heart: Known to God Knowing the Future The Providence of God is all Pervading The Wisdom of God: Exhibited in Knowing: The Words

Psalm 139:4

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