Psalms 139 Comparison: Bible in Basic English vs New Heart English Bible
Psalms 139
1O Lord, you have knowledge of me, searching out all my secrets.
2You have knowledge when I am seated and when I get up, you see my thoughts from far away.
3You keep watch over my steps and my sleep, and have knowledge of all my ways.
4For there is not a word on my tongue which is not clear to you, O Lord.
5I am shut in by you on every side, and you have put your hand on me.
6Such knowledge is a wonder greater than my powers; it is so high that I may not come near it.
7Where may I go from your spirit? how may I go in flight from you?
8If I go up to heaven, you are there: or if I make my bed in the underworld, you are there.
9If I take the wings of the morning, and go to the farthest parts of the sea;
10Even there will I be guided by your hand, and your right hand will keep me.
11If I say, Only let me be covered by the dark, and the light about me be night;
12Even the dark is not dark to you; the night is as bright as the day: for dark and light are the same to you.
13My flesh was made by you, and my parts joined together in my mother's body.
14I will give you praise, for I am strangely and delicately formed; your works are great wonders, and of this my soul is fully conscious.
15My frame was not unseen by you when I was made secretly, and strangely formed in the lowest parts of the earth.
16Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book all my days were recorded, even those which were purposed before they had come into being.
17How dear are your thoughts to me, O God! how great is the number of them!
18If I made up their number, it would be more than the grains of sand; when I am awake, I am still with you.
19If only you would put the sinners to death, O God; go far from me, you men of blood.
20For they go against you with evil designs, and your haters make sport of your name.
21Are not your haters hated by me, O Lord? are not those who are lifted up against you a cause of grief to me?
22My hate for them is complete; my thoughts of them are as if they were making war on me.
23O God, let the secrets of my heart be uncovered, and let my wandering thoughts be tested:
24See if there is any way of sorrow in me, and be my guide in the eternal way.
Psalms 139
1Lord, you have searched me, and you know me.
2You know my sitting down and my rising up. You perceive my thoughts from afar.
3You search out my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways.
4For there is not a word on my tongue, but, behold, Lord, you know it altogether.
5You hem me in behind and before. You laid your hand on me.
6This knowledge is beyond me. It's lofty. I can't attain it.
7Where could I go from your Spirit? Or where could I flee from your presence?
8If I ascend up into heaven, you are there. If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, you are there!
9If I take the wings of the dawn, and settle in the uttermost parts of the sea;
10Even there your hand will lead me, and your right hand will hold me.
11If I say, "Surely the darkness will overwhelm me; the light around me will be night;"
12even the darkness doesn't hide from you, but the night shines as the day. The darkness is like light to you.
13For you formed my inmost being. You knit me together in my mother's womb.
14I will give thanks to you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful. My soul knows that very well.
15My frame wasn't hidden from you, when I was made in secret, woven together in the depths of the earth.
16Your eyes saw my body. In your book they were all written, the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there were none of them.
17How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them!
18If I would count them, they are more in number than the sand. When I wake up, I am still with you.
19If only you, God, would kill the wicked. Get away from me, you bloodthirsty men!
20For they speak against you wickedly. Your enemies take your name in vain.
21Lord, do I not hate those who hate you? Am I not grieved with those who rise up against you?
22I hate them with perfect hatred. They have become my enemies.
23Search me, God, and know my heart. Try me, and know my thoughts.
24See if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way.
Understanding Bible in Basic English vs New Heart English Bible in Psalms 139
Bible in Basic English (BBE)
A simplified translation using a limited English vocabulary for clarity and accessibility. Helpful for new readers, ESL learners, and quick comprehension. Great for devotional reading and getting the big picture of each passage.
New Heart English Bible (NHEB)
A modern public domain translation with clear, contemporary English. Designed for readability while staying close to the source text. A solid option for both daily reading and study.
You are viewing a side-by-side comparison of Psalms 139 in the Bible in Basic English and New Heart English Bible. Comparing these two versions can help shed light on the nuances of the original text.
Key Comparison: Psalms 139:16
"Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book all my days were recorded, even those which were purposed before they had come into being."
"Your eyes saw my body. In your book they were all written, the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there were none of them."
