New International Version
Psalms 139:18
18Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand— when I awake, I am still 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.
- 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.
- New Living Translation (NLT)I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, you are still with me!
Context of Psalms 139:18
16Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. 17How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand— when I awake, I am still with you. 19If only you, God, would slay the wicked! Away from me, you who are bloodthirsty! 20They speak of you with evil intent; your adversaries misuse your name.
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 troubles without number surround me; my sins have overtaken me, and I cannot see. They are more than the hairs of my head, and my heart fails within me.
- Psalms 139:3You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.
- Psalms 3:5I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me.
- Psalms 16:8I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
- Psalms 17:15As for me, I will be vindicated and will see your face; when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness.
- Psalms 63:6On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night.
- Isaiah 26:19But your dead will live, Lord; their bodies will rise— let those who dwell in the dust wake up and shout for joy— your dew is like the dew of the morning; the earth will give birth to her dead.
- Daniel 12:2Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:10He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live 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
New International Version — © NIV® 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 Biblica
Commentaries