Bible for Soul
Book 19 of 66 · Poetry & Wisdom

PsalmsChapter 139 · light and darkness and guidance

24 verses2 sections3 min readPoetry & worshipComplete KJV text

Psalms 139 contains 24 verses in the King James Version. This page presents the complete chapter, a section-by-section outline, and direct links to every verse. Its recurring subjects include light and darkness, guidance, and enemies and opposition.

Chapter at a glance

What is in Psalms 139?

The chapter opens, “O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me.” It closes in verse 24, “And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” The outline below follows the text in order.

Primary themes
light and darknessguidanceenemies and opposition
Passage
Psalms 139:1–24
Reading time
About 3 minutes · 411 words
Section-by-section outline

Psalms 139 outline

Read the full chapter
  1. Verses 1–11

    Light and Darkness · Guidance

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

  2. Verses 12–24

    Light and Darkness · Guidance

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

King James Version · complete chapter

Psalms 139 KJV

1O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me. 2Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. 3Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. 4For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether. 5Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me. 6Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it. 7Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? 8If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. 9If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; 10Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. 11If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. 12Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee. 13For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb. 14I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. 15My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. 16Thine 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. 17How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! 18If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee. 19Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: depart from me therefore, ye bloody men. 20For they speak against thee wickedly, and thine enemies take thy name in vain. 21Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee? 22I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies. 23Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: 24And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.