Psalms 139 (NLT)

24 verses · New Living Translation · Dynamic equivalence (thought-for-thought)

The NLT renders the original texts into clear, natural English, prioritizing meaning over word-for-word correspondence. It is excellent for devotional reading and for those new to the Bible, making ancient truths immediately understandable.

Psalms Chapter 139 contains 24 verses and is presented here in the New Living Translation (NLT), which uses a dynamic equivalence (thought-for-thought) approach. Read the full text below, compare with other translations, or navigate to any of the 150 chapters in Psalms.

NIVKJVESVMSGNASB
Chapter 138Chapter 140

1O LORD, you have examined my heartand know everything about me.

2You know when I sit down or stand up.You know my thoughts even when I’m far away.

3You see me when I traveland when I rest at home.You know everything I do.

4You know what I am going to sayeven before I say it, LORD.

5You go before me and follow me.You place your hand of blessing on my head.

6Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,too great for me to understand!

7I can never escape from your Spirit!I can never get away from your presence!

8If I go up to heaven, you are there;if I go down to the grave, you are there.

9If I ride the wings of the morning,if I dwell by the farthest oceans,

10even there your hand will guide me,and your strength will support me.

11I could ask the darkness to hide meand the light around me to become night —

12but even in darkness I cannot hide from you.To you the night shines as bright as day.Darkness and light are the same to you.

13You made all the delicate, inner parts of my bodyand knit me together in my mother’s womb.

14Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!Your workmanship is marvelous — how well I know it.

15You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion,as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.

16You saw me before I was born.Every day of my life was recorded in your book.Every moment was laid outbefore a single day had passed.

17How precious are your thoughts about me, O God.They cannot be numbered!

18I can’t even count them;they outnumber the grains of sand!And when I wake up,you are still with me!

19O God, if only you would destroy the wicked!Get out of my life, you murderers!

20They blaspheme you;your enemies misuse your name.

21O LORD, shouldn’t I hate those who hate you?Shouldn’t I despise those who oppose you?

22Yes, I hate them with total hatred,for your enemies are my enemies.

23Search me, O God, and know my heart;test me and know my anxious thoughts.

24Point out anything in me that offends you,and lead me along the path of everlasting life.

Chapter 138Read in NIVChapter 140

About This Translation

What is Psalms 139 in the NLT?

Psalms 139 in the New Living Translation (NLT) contains 24 verses. The NLT uses a dynamic equivalence (thought-for-thought) approach, first published in 1996 (rev. 2015).

How does the NLT translate Psalms 139 differently?

The New Living Translation uses dynamic equivalence (thought-for-thought), balancing accuracy with modern readability. Compare this with the NIV (dynamic equivalence) version of Psalms 139 for a different perspective.

How many verses are in Psalms 139 (NLT)?

Psalms Chapter 139 contains 24 verses in the New Living Translation. The book of Psalms has 150 chapters total.

Psalms (NLT) — All 150 Chapters