Psalms 139

“O LORD , thou hast searched me, and known me.” The line’s distinctive content terms include known, LORD, searched. Its relationship to verses 2 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.” Naming Thou keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.” Naming Thou keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD , thou knowest it altogether.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.” Naming Thou keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.” Naming Such keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.” The line’s distinctive content terms include ascend, heaven, hell. Its relationship to verses 7 shows what work it does in this passage.

“If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;” The line’s distinctive content terms include dwell, morning, parts. Its relationship to verses 10 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to…” Naming Yea keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right…” The line’s distinctive content terms include fearfully, knoweth, marvellous. Its relationship to verses 13 and 15 shows what work it does in this passage.

“My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.” The line’s distinctive content terms include curiously, earth, lowest. Its relationship to verses 14 and 16 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in…” Naming Thine keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!” The verse names God rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.” The line’s distinctive content terms include awake, count, number. Its relationship to verses 17 and 19 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: depart from me therefore, ye bloody men.” Naming Surely keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“For they speak against thee wickedly, and thine enemies take thy name in vain.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“Do not I hate them, O LORD , that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies.” The line’s distinctive content terms include count, enemies, hate. Its relationship to verses 21 and 23 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:” Naming Search keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” The line’s distinctive content terms include everlasting, lead, wicked. Its relationship to verses 23 shows what work it does in this passage.