New English Translation
Psalms 139:17
17How difficult it is for me to fathom your thoughts about me, O God! How vast is their sum total!
Psalms 139:17 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!
- New International Version (NIV)How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them!
- English Standard Version (ESV)How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!
- New King James Version (NKJV)How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them!
Context of Psalms 139:17
15my bones were not hidden from you, when I was made in secret and sewed together in the depths of the earth. 16Your eyes saw me when I was inside the womb. All the days ordained for me were recorded in your scroll before one of them came into existence. How difficult it is for me to fathom your thoughts about me, O God! How vast is their sum total! 18If I tried to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. Even if I finished counting them, I would still have to contend with you. 19If only you would kill the wicked, O God! Get away from me, you violent men!
Read all of Psalms 139Psalms 139:17 word by word
וְלִ֗י מַה־יָּקְר֣וּ רֵעֶ֣יךָ אֵ֑ל מֶ֥ה עָ֝צְמוּ רָאשֵׁיהֶֽם׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Psalms 139:17
- Psalms 40:5O Lord, my God, you have accomplished many things; you have done amazing things and carried out your purposes for us. No one can thwart you! I want to declare them and talk about them, but they are too numerous to recount!
- Proverbs 8:31rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth, and delighting in its people.
- Isaiah 55:8“Indeed, my plans are not like your plans, and my deeds are not like your deeds,
- Jeremiah 29:11For I know what I have planned for you,’ says the Lord. ‘I have plans to prosper you, not to harm you. I have plans to give you a future filled with hope.
- Ephesians 3:9and to enlighten everyone about God’s secret plan – a secret that has been hidden for ages in God who has created all things.
- Psalms 31:19How great is your favor, which you store up for your loyal followers! In plain sight of everyone you bestow it on those who take shelter in you.
- Psalms 36:7How precious is your loyal love, O God! The human race finds shelter under your wings.
Commentaries on Psalms 139:17
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 17How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! - On the word “thoughts,” see the notes at Psalm 139:2. Compare Psalm 139:23. The remark is made here doubtless in view of the numberless “thoughts” involved in planning and forming a frame so wondrous, and in the care necessary to bring it to perfection; to develop it; to provide for it; to guard and defend it. How many “thoughts” of a parent are employed in behalf of his children, in providing for them…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. 17How precious to me are Your thoughts: God’s careful examination shows his loving care. Life with the Lord brings blessings that are beyond words.Read the comment
- Rashi on Tanakh · v. 17And to me, how dear are Your friends The congregation of Israel says, “How esteemed in my eyes are the righteous in every generation!”Read the comment
Topics related to Psalms 139:17
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
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