Psalm 139:6

Translations

Modern

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.

Traditional

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

Literal

Such knowledge is wonderful for me; it is high, I am not able to atttain it.

Latin

Mirabilis facta est scientia tua ex me; confortata est, et non potero ad eam.

Original

Hebrew

English

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.

Notes

Psalms 139:6

The Lord’s wonderful understanding lies beyond the psalmist’s ability to comprehend (see Judges 13:18).

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 Human Confusion and God’s Purpose The Cloud and Fire The Heart in the Psalms Wisdom Psalms

Related verses

Romans 11:33
O, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments, and untraceable His ways!
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.
Job 26:14
Indeed, these are but the fringes of His ways; how faint is the whisper we hear of Him! Who then can understand the thunder of His power?”
Psalm 40:5
Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders You have done, and the plans You have for us—none can compare to You—if I proclaim and declare them, they are more than I can count.
Job 11:7–9
Can you fathom the deep things of God or discover the limits of the Almighty?
Proverbs 30:2–4
Surely I am the most ignorant of men, and I lack the understanding of a man.
Psalm 13:1
For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. How long, O LORD? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me?

Glossary

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

Topics

God is Declared to Be: Omniscient God: Knowledge of God: Unsearchable Heart: Known to God Ignorance: General Scriptures Concerning The Wisdom of God: Beyond Human Comprehension The Wisdom of God: Wonderful

Psalm 139:6

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