Psalm 139:1
O Lord, thou hast searched me, and known me.
Psalm 139:2
Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.
Psalm 139:7
Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?
Psalm 139:8
If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.
Psalm 139:13
For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb.
Psalm 139:14
I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.
Psalm 139:23
Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
Psalm 139:24
And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Understanding this theme in its biblical setting
Psalm 139 moves from awe that God knows every unspoken thought and every corner of creation to gratitude for being 'fearfully and wonderfully made,' ending with the courageous prayer: 'Search me, O God, and know my heart.' Rather than treating individual verses as isolated slogans, Scripture invites us to listen to how the Law, the Psalms, the Prophets, the Gospels, and the apostolic letters speak to one another across centuries of lived faith.
Key passages and their context
Psalm 139:1–24 — Context and meaning
As a prayer-poem from the book of Psalms, this verse was composed to be sung and prayed aloud—giving honest voice to both human vulnerability and steadfast trust in God. You can read the surrounding chapter in Psalm 139 to hear how these verses unfold in their full literary flow.
How to reflect on these passages in daily life
- Read slowly in context: Open the chapter surrounding at least one reference above so you hear the speaker's full argument or prayer before focusing on a single sentence.
- Notice what the text reveals about God: Before asking what you must do, observe how the passage describes God's patience, wisdom, mercy, or faithfulness.
- Carry one question into your day: Keep a single phrase or verse close—whether in a notebook, on your Lock Screen widget, or in evening prayer—and return to it when your attention is scattered.
Continue exploring on Versea
You can continue reading in our Bible verses by topic collection, explore related answers in Questions about the Bible, or study a full passage in Bible lessons.
Questions people ask
01Why should I read the full chapter around these verses on psalm 139?
Every biblical verse was written within a specific letter, psalm, historical narrative, or Gospel conversation. Reading the surrounding chapter shows who is speaking, to whom, and what situation prompted the words, preventing isolated phrases from being misunderstood.
02Which translation does Versea quote on this page?
In English, Versea quotes the public-domain King James Version (KJV) directly from verified chapter sources so that no verse text is ever altered or generated by AI. You can also compare the full book context in the Bible library.
03How can I carry this passage into daily prayer and reflection?
Choose one verse from the list above, read it slowly in the morning and evening, and ask one honest question: what does this text show about God's character, and what small step of trust or kindness does it invite today?