Psalms 139:18

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: When I awake, I am still with thee.

Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

אֶ֭סְפְּרֵם מֵח֣וֹל יִרְבּ֑וּן הֱ֝קִיצֹ֗תִי וְעוֹדִ֥י עִמָּֽךְ׃

Transliteration

ʾesppərēm from-ḥôl yirbûn; hĕqîṣōtî and-ʿôdî ʿimmāk

Grammar Details

*ʾesppərēm*: verb, Qal imperfect 1st person singular + 3rd person masculine plural suffix - I count them
*ḥôl*: noun, masculine singular - sand
*yirbûn*: verb, Qal imperfect 3rd person masculine plural paragogic nun - they are more numerous
*hĕqîṣōtî*: verb, Hiphil perfect 1st person singular - I awake
*ʿôdî*: adverb + 1st person singular suffix - still I
*ʿimmāk*: preposition + 2nd person masculine singular suffix - with you

Word Meanings

*ʾesppərēm*: count them/enumerate them/recount them
*ḥôl*: sand/seashore
*yirbûn*: more numerous/multiply/increase
*hĕqîṣōtî*: awake/wake up/arise
*ʿôdî*: still I/yet I/continuously I

ℹ️

About this Translation

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

Formal EquivalenceSource: American Standard VersionBest for: Word studies and original-language research

🎯 Translation Approach

A highly literal, word-for-word translation (ASV, 1901) augmented with Strong's numbering to connect English words to underlying Hebrew and Greek terms for study.

Word-for-word

5/5

Readability

2/5

💎 Distinctive Features

Integrated Strong's numbering: Links English terms to underlying Hebrew and Greek words for deeper lexical study.
Formal equivalence: Prioritizes close alignment with source-language forms and structures.
Divine name rendering: Frequently renders the Tetragrammaton as Jehovah in the Old Testament, following ASV tradition.
Study-focused formatting: Optimized for reference and research rather than casual reading.

✅ Strengths

High fidelity to original languages
Includes Strong's numbers for precise word study
Consistent lexical choices aid exegesis
Stable, longstanding scholarly text

⚠️ Considerations

Archaic language reduces readability
Older textual basis compared to some modern translations
Strong's numbers are a concordance index, not full lexical definitions

👥 Who is this for?

Ideal for

Pastors and teachers
Seminary students
Serious Bible students
Readers conducting word studies
Those referencing Hebrew/Greek tools

Consider alternatives for

Casual readers
Children and early teens
ESL learners seeking simple English
Readers preferring contemporary language

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Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

Ps 3:5 : 5 I laid me down and slept; I awaked; For Jehovah sustaineth me.
Ps 139:3 : 3 Thou searchest out my path and my lying down, And art acquainted with all my ways.
Isa 26:19 : 19 Thy dead shall live; my dead bodies shall arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in the dust; for thy dew is [as] the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast forth the dead.
Dan 12:2 : 2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
1 Thess 5:10 : 10 who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.
Ps 16:8-9 : 8 I have set Jehovah always before me: Because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. 9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth; My flesh also shall dwell in safety. 10 For thou wilt not leave my soul to Sheol; Neither wilt thou suffer thy holy one to see corruption. 11 Thou wilt show me the path of life: In thy presence is fulness of joy; In thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
Ps 17:15 : 15 As for me, I shall behold thy face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with [beholding] thy form.
Ps 40:5 : 5 Many, O Jehovah my God, are the wonderful works which thou hast done, And thy thoughts which are to us-ward; They cannot be set in order unto thee; If I would declare and speak of them, They are more than can be numbered.
Ps 40:12 : 12 For innumerable evils have compassed me about; Mine iniquities have overtaken me, so that I am not able to look up; They are more than the hairs of my head; And my heart hath failed me.
Ps 63:6-7 : 6 When I remember thee upon my bed, [And] meditate on thee in the night-watches. 7 For thou hast been my help, And in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice.

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

Ps 139:1-17
17 verses
86%
1For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. O Jehovah, thou hast searched me, and known [me].
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.
6[ Such] 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 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 alike [to 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, [Even] the days that were ordained [for 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!
Ps 40:5
76%
5Many, O Jehovah my God, are the wonderful works which thou hast done, And thy thoughts which are to us-ward; They cannot be set in order unto thee; If I would declare and speak of them, They are more than can be numbered.
Ps 139:19
73%
19Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: Depart from me therefore, ye bloodthirsty men.
Ps 139:22-24
3 verses
72%
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.
Ps 63:6
71%
6When I remember thee upon my bed, [And] meditate on thee in the night-watches.
Ps 40:11-12
2 verses
71%
11Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O Jehovah; Let thy lovingkindness and thy truth continually preserve me.
12For innumerable evils have compassed me about; Mine iniquities have overtaken me, so that I am not able to look up; They are more than the hairs of my head; And my heart hath failed me.
Ps 73:23
71%
23Nevertheless I am continually with thee: Thou hast holden my right hand.
Job 14:16
70%
16But now thou numberest my steps: Dost thou not watch over my sin?
Ps 94:19
70%
19In the multitude of my thoughts within me Thy comforts delight my soul.
Job 29:18
70%
18Then I said, I shall die in my nest, And I shall multiply my days as the sand:
Ps 56:8
69%
8Thou numberest my wanderings: Put thou my tears into thy bottle; Are they not in thy book?
Matt 10:30
69%
30but the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
Ps 17:15
69%
15As for me, I shall behold thy face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with [beholding] thy form.
Ps 92:5
68%
5How great are thy works, O Jehovah! Thy thoughts are very deep.
Ps 3:1
68%
1A Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son. Jehovah, how are mine adversaries increased! Many are they that rise up against me.
Ps 31:14
68%
14But I trusted in thee, O Jehovah: I said, Thou art my God.
Ps 8:3
68%
3When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, The moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;
Ps 77:4
68%
4Thou holdest mine eyes watching: I am so troubled that I cannot speak.
Ps 3:5-6
2 verses
68%
5I laid me down and slept; I awaked; For Jehovah sustaineth me.
6I will not be afraid of ten thousands of the people That have set themselves against me round about.
Job 7:4
68%
4When I lie down, I say, When shall I arise, and the night be gone? And I am full of tossings to and fro unto the dawning of the day.
Ps 71:14
68%
14But I will hope continually, And will praise thee yet more and more.
Ps 25:19
67%
19Consider mine enemies, for they are many; And they hate me with cruel hatred.
Ps 118:18
67%
18Jehovah hath chastened me sore; But he hath not given me over unto death.
Ps 119:148
67%
148Mine eyes anticipated the night-watches, That I might meditate on thy word.
Ps 142:3
67%
3When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, Thou knewest my path. In the way wherein I walk Have they hidden a snare for me.
Ps 16:1
67%
1Michtam of David. Preserve me, O God; For in thee do I take refuge.
Ps 119:176
67%
176I have gone astray like a lost sheep; Seek thy servant; For I do not forget thy commandments.
Ps 143:8
67%
8Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; For in thee do I trust: Cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; For I lift up my soul unto thee.
Ps 18:36
67%
36Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, And my feet have not slipped.
Ps 27:3
67%
3Though a host should encamp against me, My heart shall not fear: Though war should rise against me, Even then will I be confident.