New English Translation
Psalms 139:18
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.
Psalms 139:18 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.
- New International Version (NIV)Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand— when I awake, I am still with you.
- English Standard Version (ESV)If I would count them, they are more than the sand. I awake, and I am still with you.
- New King James Version (NKJV)If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; When I awake, I am still with You.
Context of Psalms 139:18
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. 17How difficult it is for me to fathom your thoughts about me, O God! How vast is their sum total! If 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! 20They rebel against you and act deceitfully; your enemies lie.
Read all of Psalms 139Psalms 139:18 word by word
אֶ֭סְפְּרֵם מֵח֣וֹל יִרְבּ֑וּן הֱ֝קִיצֹ֗תִי וְעוֹדִ֥י עִמָּֽךְ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Psalms 139:18
- Psalms 40:12For innumerable dangers surround me. My sins overtake me so I am unable to see; they outnumber the hairs of my head so my strength fails me.
- Psalms 139:3You carefully observe me when I travel or when I lie down to rest; you are aware of everything I do.
- Psalms 3:5I rested and slept; I awoke, for the Lord protects me.
- Psalms 16:8I constantly trust in the Lord; because he is at my right hand, I will not be upended.
- Psalms 17:15As for me, because I am innocent I will see your face; when I awake you will reveal yourself to me.
- Psalms 63:6whenever I remember you on my bed, and think about you during the nighttime hours.
- Isaiah 26:19Your dead will come back to life; your corpses will rise up. Wake up and shout joyfully, you who live in the ground! For you will grow like plants drenched with the morning dew, and the earth will bring forth its dead spirits.
- Daniel 12:2Many of those who sleep in the dusty ground will awake – some to everlasting life, and others to shame and everlasting abhorrence.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:10He died for us so that whether we are alert or asleep we will come to life together with him.
Commentaries on Psalms 139:18
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 18If I should count them - If I could count them. They are more in number than the sand - Numberless as the sand on the sea-shore. When I awake, I am still with thee - When I am lost in deep and profound meditation on this subject, and am aroused again to consciousness, I find the same thing still true. The fact of “my” being forgetful, or lost in profound meditation, has made no difference with thee. Thou art still the same; and the same unceasing care…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. 1-24In 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…Read the comment
- Rashi on Tanakh · v. 18I shall count them...than sand If I came to count the good of their deeds, they would be more numerous than sand.Read the comment
Topics related to Psalms 139:18
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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