God’s Word Translation
Psalms 139:23
23Examine me, O God, and know my mind. Test me, and know my thoughts.
Psalms 139:23 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
- New International Version (NIV)Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts!
- New King James Version (NKJV)Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties;
Context of Psalms 139:23
21Shouldn’t I hate those who hate you, O Lord? Shouldn’t I be disgusted with those who attack you? 22I hate them with all my heart. They have become my enemies. Examine me, O God, and know my mind. Test me, and know my thoughts. 24See whether I am on an evil path. Then lead me on the everlasting path.
Read all of Psalms 139Psalms 139:23 word by word
חָקְרֵ֣נִי אֵ֭ל וְדַ֣ע לְבָבִ֑י בְּ֝חָנֵ֗נִי וְדַ֣ע שַׂרְעַפָּֽי׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Psalms 139:23
- Psalms 139:1O Lord, you have examined me, and you know me.
- Psalms 26:2Examine me, O Lord, and test me. Look closely into my heart and mind.
- Deuteronomy 8:2Remember that for 40 years the Lord your God led you on your journey in the desert. He did this in order to humble you and test you. He wanted to know whether or not you would wholeheartedly obey his commands.
- Job 31:6⌞then⌟ let God weigh me on honest scales, and he will know I have integrity.
- Proverbs 17:3The crucible is for refining silver and the smelter for gold, but the one who purifies hearts ⌞by fire⌟ is the Lord.
- Zechariah 13:9I will bring this third ⌞of the people⌟ through the fire. I will refine them as silver is refined. I will test them as gold is tested. They will call on me, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘They are my people.’ They will reply, ‘The Lord is our God.’ ”
- Malachi 3:2But who will be able to endure the day he comes? Who will be able to survive on the day he appears? He is like a purifying fire and like a cleansing soap.
- 1 Peter 1:7The purpose of these troubles is to test your faith as fire tests how genuine gold is. Your faith is more precious than gold, and by passing the test, it gives praise, glory, and honor to God. This will happen when Jesus Christ appears again.
Commentaries on Psalms 139:23
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 23Search me, O God - The word “search” here is the same as in Psalm 139:1. See the notes at that verse. The psalmist had stated the fact that it is a characteristic of God that he “does” search the heart; and he here prays that God “would” exercise that power in relation to himself; that as God could know all that there is within the heart, he would examine him with the closest scrutiny, so that he might be under no delusion or self-deception; that he might…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 17-24Verses 17-24 God's counsels concerning us and our welfare are deep, such as cannot be known. We cannot think how many mercies we have received from him. It would help to keep us in the fear of the Lord all the day long, if, when we wake in the morning, our first thoughts were of him: and how shall we admire and bless our God for his precious salvation, when we awake in the world of glory! Surely we ought not to use our members and senses, which are so…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 23-24As the psalmist prays about the wicked, he also reflects on himself. He does not assume that he is righteous. This prayer has been spoken again and again by God’s people over many generations.Read the comment
Topics related to Psalms 139:23
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Psalms 139
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- The Treasury of David
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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