Psalms 139 Comparison: Noyes Translation (1869) vs King James Version
Psalms 139
1O LORD! thou hast searched me and known me!
2Thou knowest my sitting-down and my rising-up; Thou understandest my thoughts from afar!
3Thou seest my path and my lying-down, And art acquainted with all my ways!
4For before the word is upon my tongue, Behold, O LORD! thou knowest it altogether!
5Thou besettest me behind and before, And layest thine hand upon me!
6Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is high, I cannot attain to it!
7Whither shall I go from thy spirit, And whither shall I flee from thy presence?
8If I ascend into heaven, thou art there! If I make my bed in the underworld, behold, thou art there!
9If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the remotest 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 cover me;" Even the night shall be light about me.
12Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee, But the night shineth as the day; The darkness and the light are both alike to thee!
13For thou didst form my reins; Thou didst weave me in my mother’s womb.
14I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvellous are thy works, And this my soul knoweth full well!
15My frame was not hidden from thee, When I was made in secret. When I was curiously wrought in the lower parts of the earth.
16Thine eyes did see my substance, while yet unformed, And in thy book was every thing written; My days were appointed before one of them existed.
17How precious to me are thy thoughts, O God! How great is the sum of them!
18If I should count them, they would outnumber the sand: When I awake, I am still with thee!
19O that thou wouldst slay the wicked, O God! Ye men of blood, depart from me!
20For they speak against thee wickedly; Thine enemies utter thy name for falsehood.
21Do I not hate them that hate thee, O LORD? Do I not abhor them that rise up against thee?
22Yea, I hate them with perfect hatred; I count them mine enemies.
23Search me, O God! and know my heart; Try me, and know my thoughts;
24And see if the way of trouble be within me, And lead me in the way everlasting!
Psalms 139
1O Lord, thou hast searched me, and known me.
2Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.
3Thou compassest 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 Lord, thou knowest it altogether.
5Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.
6Such knowledge 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 hell, 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 cover me; even the night shall be light about me.
12Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.
13For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb.
14I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.
15My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
16Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, 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 bloody men.
20For they speak against thee wickedly, and thine enemies take thy name in vain.
21Do not I hate them, O Lord, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?
22I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them 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.
Understanding Noyes Translation (1869) vs King James Version in Psalms 139
Noyes Translation (1869) (Noyes)
A scholarly 1869 translation by George R. Noyes, aiming for precision and literary beauty. Known for its distinct Unitarian perspective and separate translation of poetical books like Psalms.
King James Version (KJV)
The classic 1611 English translation known for its majestic prose and literary influence. Ideal for traditional study and memorization thanks to its formal style. A foundational English Bible used for centuries.
You are viewing a side-by-side comparison of Psalms 139 in the Noyes Translation (1869) and King James Version. Comparing these two versions can help shed light on the nuances of the original text.
Key Comparison: Psalms 139:16
"Thine eyes did see my substance, while yet unformed, And in thy book was every thing written; My days were appointed before one of them existed."
"Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them."
