Psalms 139 Comparison: American Standard Version vs Young's Literal Translation
Psalms 139
1O Jehovah, thou hast searched me, and knownme.
2Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising; Thou understandest my thought afar off.
3Thou searchest out my path and my lying down, And art acquainted with all my ways.
4For there is not a word in my tongue, But, lo, O Jehovah, thou knowest it altogether.
5Thou hast beset me behind and before, And laid thy hand upon me.
6Suchknowledge is too wonderful for me; It is high, I cannot attain unto it.
7Whither shall I go from thy Spirit? Or whither shall I flee from thy presence?
8If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, thou art there.
9If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;
10Even there shall thy hand lead me, And thy right hand shall hold me.
11If I say, Surely the darkness shall overwhelm me, And the light about me shall be night;
12Even the darkness hideth not from thee, But the night shineth as the day: The darkness and the light are both aliketo thee.
13For thou didst form my inward parts: Thou didst cover me in my mother’s womb.
14I will give thanks unto thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: Wonderful are thy works; And that my soul knoweth right well.
15My frame was not hidden from thee, When I was made in secret, And curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
16Thine eyes did see mine unformed substance; And in thy book they were all written, Eventhe days that were ordainedfor me, When as yet there was none of them.
17How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! How great is the sum of them!
18If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: When I awake, I am still with thee.
19Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: Depart from me therefore, ye bloodthirsty men.
20For they speak against thee wickedly, And thine enemies take thy name in vain.
21Do not I hate them, O Jehovah, that hate thee? And am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?
22I hate them with perfect hatred: They are become mine enemies.
23Search me, O God, and know my heart: Try me, and know my thoughts;
24And see if there be any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.
Psalms 139
1To the Overseer. A Psalm by David. Jehovah, Thou hast searched me, and knowest.
2ThouThou hast known my sitting down, And my rising up, Thou hast attended to my thoughts from afar.
3My path and my couch Thou hast fanned, And with all my ways hast been acquainted.
4For there is not a word in my tongue, Lo, O Jehovah, Thou hast known it all!
5Behind and before Thou hast besieged me, And Thou dost place on me Thy hand.
6Knowledge too wonderful for me, It hath been set on high, I am not able for it.
7Whither do I go from Thy Spirit? And whither from Thy face do I flee?
8If I ascend the heavensthere Thou art , And spread out a couch in Sheol, lo, Thee!
9I take the wings of morning, I dwell in the uttermost part of the sea,
10Also there Thy hand doth lead me, And Thy right hand doth hold me.
11And I say, `Surely darkness bruiseth me, Then night is light to me.
12Also darkness hideth not from Thee, And night as day shineth, as is darkness so is light.
13For ThouThou hast possessed my reins, Thou dost cover me in my mother's belly.
14I confess Thee, because that with wonders I have been distinguished. Wonderful are Thy works, And my soul is knowing it well.
15My substance was not hid from Thee, When I was made in secret, Curiously wrought in the lower part of earth.
16Mine unformed substance Thine eyes saw, And on Thy book all of them are written, The days they were formedAnd not one among them.
17And to me how precious have been Thy thoughts, O God, how great hath been their sum!
18I recount them! than the sand they are more, I have waked, and I am still with Thee.
19Dost Thou slay, O God, the wicked? Then, men of blood, turn aside from me!
20Who exchange Thee for wickedness, Lifted up to vanity are Thine enemies.
21Do not I hate, Jehovah, those hating Thee? And with Thy withstanders grieve myself?
22With perfect hatred I have hated them, Enemies they have become to me.
23Search me, O God, and know my heart, Try me, and know my thoughts,
24And see if a grievous way be in me, And lead me in a way age-during!
Understanding American Standard Version vs Young's Literal Translation in Psalms 139
American Standard Version (ASV)
A highly literal translation known for accuracy and adherence to the original Hebrew and Greek. Consistent word choices make it excellent for careful study and cross-referencing. A strong pick for readers who want a precise, classic-modern English Bible.
Young's Literal Translation (YLT)
An extremely literal, word-for-word translation that preserves original verb tenses and phrasing. Best for close study and comparing structures from the source languages. The English can feel rigid, but it’s very useful for detailed analysis.
You are viewing a side-by-side comparison of Psalms 139 in the American Standard Version and Young's Literal Translation. Comparing these two versions can help shed light on the nuances of the original text.
Key Comparison: Psalms 139:16
"Thine eyes did see mine unformed substance; And in thy book they were all written, Eventhe days that were ordainedfor me, When as yet there was none of them."
"Mine unformed substance Thine eyes saw, And on Thy book all of them are written, The days they were formedAnd not one among them."
