Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.
God knows the ordinary movements of daily life, from sitting down and rising up to paths and lying down and every circumstance and experience, and He understands thoughts even when they are distant, hidden and private, indeed before they are spoken or fully recognized. This is the close and constant watchfulness of One whose knowledge is intimate and complete, not limited by distance or by what is outwardly visible. Nothing in the inner life escapes Him, for even darkness does not hide from Him, He looks upon the heart and examines its depths, and He sees motives, purposes and impulses and weighs thoughts and actions alike. He hears every word and keeps a faithful record of words and actions as distinctly as if there were only one person in the world, so that each person is answerable at the final judgment and will be rewarded as his works have been. Prayer therefore does not tell Him what He does not already know, and the assurance that He knows it all brings comfort in weariness and should lead to reverence for Him, to kind and honest conduct toward others, and to fear of sin since no part of conduct escapes His observation.
Wording and Sense
Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising speaks of ordinary daily actions and movements, of sitting down and rising up in the common round of life. It embraces every circumstance and experience, every path and lying down and way, every work and conduct. Nothing in the outward life is too small or routine to be outside this knowing, for it reaches every detail and is complete, not limited by distance or by what is outwardly visible.
Thou understandest my thought afar off means thoughts are known even when distant, hidden, and private. Afar off is distance from human notice and human view, what is unseen by people and done in secret still being open. It is also distance beyond human knowledge itself, for no thought or motive is concealed and even unlawful thoughts and impulses of the sinful heart are weighed.
Afar off also carries the sense of beforehand. Thoughts are understood before they are spoken, before they are fully expressed, before they are even recognized by the one thinking them. Prayer therefore does not tell anything not already known, since hidden thoughts are already read and there is no need for prayers to be long or loud to recount them.
Taken together, the two halves declare the close and constant watchfulness of God. His knowledge of a person is intimate and complete, reaching every way and every word after fully searching the person. It is not bounded by what is outwardly visible, and it remains too wonderful and high for human understanding to attain.
Breadth of Divine Knowledge
God knows every detail of a person's life, having searched the person fully and being completely acquainted with every way and every word, knowing every movement made and understanding thought even before it is spoken or fully expressed. His knowledge reaches ordinary actions like sitting down and rising up and what is in the heart, and nothing is hidden from His searching gaze. This intimate knowledge of each person is too wonderful and high for human beings to grasp, so that human understanding cannot attain it or comprehend it.
Nothing in the inner life is beyond Him and no one can escape His sight, for what is unseen by people or done in secret is still open to Him. His knowledge reaches every secret action and every hidden, private thought even when far from human notice and far beyond human knowledge, for He is always awake and sees what people do. Even darkness does not hide from Him, but night shines as the day and darkness and light are both alike to Him. The deepest midnight is no cover for the guilty one, and a person who thinks himself alone still has an unseen Witness to every deed, with the path and lying down compassed and every word in the tongue known altogether.
He looks upon the heart and sees all its workings, examining the depths of every soul and knowing the hidden secrets of the heart more accurately than people know one another's hearts. No action, purpose, or word escapes His attention, and nothing is hidden from Him. He knows the character of the mind and the true condition of every mind, including everything that weighs on the heart and every inward state, so that no one's true condition or thought hidden from others is concealed from Him. The assurance that the Lord knows it all brings comfort amid weariness, discouragement, and burdens that are difficult to explain.
He sees motives, purposes, impulses, and the spirit behind every deed, including unlawful thoughts and impulses of the sinful heart, and He weighs thoughts and actions alike. Motives and purposes concealed from others and done slyly, wrongs covered from human sight, and every inward and hidden thing are still known, with every word spoken, every movement made, and the motives prompting each action reaching His knowledge. He knows the whole history and daily affairs of every person, from humble laborers to kings, including their work and actions, hidden sins and acts of kindness, every act, word, motive, and deed. Unlike people, who cannot see into the human heart, He sees thoughts and what they will produce, knowing principles, motives, and spirit and what people will do when tempted and where thoughts lead. This was shown when Christ knew what the disciples would think before distrust entered their minds and sought to prepare them to reveal their inner character, knowing their thoughts before they were expressed or even recognized by them.
Witness Record and Judgment
Thou knowest downsitting and uprising and understandest thought afar off means there is a constant Witness present in every place and at every hour, even in the private bedchamber, who hears every word uttered and notes every gesture and action. No private conduct is hidden from God, for He sees whether a person is faithful or disloyal and deceptive, and no word, action, or inward anger escapes His notice, leaving each person accountable to Him. His eye is always open and takes cognizance of all actions, so motives and purposes concealed from others and done slyly to avoid censure, and wrongs covered from human sight, are not hid from heaven. The holy Lord, the Redeemer, and the pure angels look upon and see the sin, for the Searcher of hearts is acquainted with all acts supposed to be hid from mortal sight.
He sees and hears all that is done and said and keeps a faithful record of words and actions, examining the depths of every heart, as distinctly marked as though there were only one person in the whole world and the attention of heaven were centered upon him. Right thoughts and actions are remembered in heaven, and evil deeds are faithfully recorded unless they are repented of, confessed, and washed away by Jesus' atoning blood. Because of this full knowledge no one can conceal wrongdoing from Him, and each person is answerable at the final judgment and must meet that record. He will finally reward each person as his works have been.
He is a discerner of thoughts as well as a hearer of every word that falls from human lips. He looks upon the heart and sees all its workings, so He hears sincere prayer and knows how to answer. He is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that is asked or thought.
Living Before God
Prayer tells God nothing He does not already know, for He reads hidden thoughts and already knows the history and secrets of life, so there is no need for prayers to be long or loud or to recount those things to Him. The assurance that the Lord knows it all brings comfort amid weariness and discouragement and burdens that are difficult to explain. Fathers and mothers should teach children that the Lord Jesus knows all they do and think, seeing all they do and knowing all they think.
When children do wrong, parents should take them away by themselves, kneel and pray with them, and tell them patiently and kindly that One sees and knows, so that the children see that help is needed and break down and desire help and blessing. This patient, tearful correction without anger does more good than the rod, melts the heart, and leads children so to conduct themselves that the Lord can look upon them and bless them, while the parents are regarded as having discharged their duty to their children. Knowing that one constantly stands in Christ's presence, with every impulse of the heart, every purpose of the soul, and every imagination open to His inspection, should lead to reverence for Him and to courteous, tender, kind, and respectful conduct toward others.
Cherishing habitually the impression that wherever a person is and whatever is done he is in God's presence, with no part of conduct escaping observation and no ways hidden, gives fear to sin, and the young especially should ever remember it. This knowledge should guard everyone who fears God from selfish acts, with the assurance that it always pays in the end to be wholly unselfish in right doing even if never appreciated here in this world of avarice, selfishness, and fraud. People act in God's sight and cannot hide disobedience or excuse it before Him, for no action, purpose, or word escapes His attention.
He sees and understands all dishonesty in planning, all unlawful appropriation of property or means in any degree, and all injustice in dealing with others. He is present and watching in every place and at every hour, seeing whether conduct is faithful or disloyal and deceptive, and no word, action, or inward anger escapes His notice, with each person accountable to Him. When the Holy Spirit works in the heart and mind the life bears good and right fruit, for unlike people who cannot see into the human heart, God sees thoughts even when far beyond human understanding and sees what they will produce. As people do His will He is their helper and God, weighing thoughts and knowing them even from afar.
God knows the ordinary movements of daily life, from sitting down and rising up to paths and lying down and every circumstance and experience, and He understands thoughts even when they are distant, hidden and private, indeed before they are spoken or fully recognized. This is the close and constant watchfulness of One whose knowledge is intimate and complete, not limited by distance or by what is outwardly visible. Nothing in the inner life escapes Him, for even darkness does not hide from Him, He looks upon the heart and examines its depths, and He sees motives, purposes and impulses and weighs thoughts and actions alike. He hears every word and keeps a faithful record of words and actions as distinctly as if there were only one person in the world, so that each person is answerable at the final judgment and will be rewarded as his works have been. Prayer therefore does not tell Him what He does not already know, and the assurance that He knows it all brings comfort in weariness and should lead to reverence for Him, to kind and honest conduct toward others, and to fear of sin since no part of conduct escapes His observation.
Wording and Sense
Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising speaks of ordinary daily actions and movements, of sitting down and rising up in the common round of life. It embraces every circumstance and experience, every path and lying down and way, every work and conduct. Nothing in the outward life is too small or routine to be outside this knowing, for it reaches every detail and is complete, not limited by distance or by what is outwardly visible.
Thou understandest my thought afar off means thoughts are known even when distant, hidden, and private. Afar off is distance from human notice and human view, what is unseen by people and done in secret still being open. It is also distance beyond human knowledge itself, for no thought or motive is concealed and even unlawful thoughts and impulses of the sinful heart are weighed.
Afar off also carries the sense of beforehand. Thoughts are understood before they are spoken, before they are fully expressed, before they are even recognized by the one thinking them. Prayer therefore does not tell anything not already known, since hidden thoughts are already read and there is no need for prayers to be long or loud to recount them.
Taken together, the two halves declare the close and constant watchfulness of God. His knowledge of a person is intimate and complete, reaching every way and every word after fully searching the person. It is not bounded by what is outwardly visible, and it remains too wonderful and high for human understanding to attain.
Breadth of Divine Knowledge
God knows every detail of a person's life, having searched the person fully and being completely acquainted with every way and every word, knowing every movement made and understanding thought even before it is spoken or fully expressed. His knowledge reaches ordinary actions like sitting down and rising up and what is in the heart, and nothing is hidden from His searching gaze. This intimate knowledge of each person is too wonderful and high for human beings to grasp, so that human understanding cannot attain it or comprehend it.
Nothing in the inner life is beyond Him and no one can escape His sight, for what is unseen by people or done in secret is still open to Him. His knowledge reaches every secret action and every hidden, private thought even when far from human notice and far beyond human knowledge, for He is always awake and sees what people do. Even darkness does not hide from Him, but night shines as the day and darkness and light are both alike to Him. The deepest midnight is no cover for the guilty one, and a person who thinks himself alone still has an unseen Witness to every deed, with the path and lying down compassed and every word in the tongue known altogether.
He looks upon the heart and sees all its workings, examining the depths of every soul and knowing the hidden secrets of the heart more accurately than people know one another's hearts. No action, purpose, or word escapes His attention, and nothing is hidden from Him. He knows the character of the mind and the true condition of every mind, including everything that weighs on the heart and every inward state, so that no one's true condition or thought hidden from others is concealed from Him. The assurance that the Lord knows it all brings comfort amid weariness, discouragement, and burdens that are difficult to explain.
He sees motives, purposes, impulses, and the spirit behind every deed, including unlawful thoughts and impulses of the sinful heart, and He weighs thoughts and actions alike. Motives and purposes concealed from others and done slyly, wrongs covered from human sight, and every inward and hidden thing are still known, with every word spoken, every movement made, and the motives prompting each action reaching His knowledge. He knows the whole history and daily affairs of every person, from humble laborers to kings, including their work and actions, hidden sins and acts of kindness, every act, word, motive, and deed. Unlike people, who cannot see into the human heart, He sees thoughts and what they will produce, knowing principles, motives, and spirit and what people will do when tempted and where thoughts lead. This was shown when Christ knew what the disciples would think before distrust entered their minds and sought to prepare them to reveal their inner character, knowing their thoughts before they were expressed or even recognized by them.
Witness Record and Judgment
Thou knowest downsitting and uprising and understandest thought afar off means there is a constant Witness present in every place and at every hour, even in the private bedchamber, who hears every word uttered and notes every gesture and action. No private conduct is hidden from God, for He sees whether a person is faithful or disloyal and deceptive, and no word, action, or inward anger escapes His notice, leaving each person accountable to Him. His eye is always open and takes cognizance of all actions, so motives and purposes concealed from others and done slyly to avoid censure, and wrongs covered from human sight, are not hid from heaven. The holy Lord, the Redeemer, and the pure angels look upon and see the sin, for the Searcher of hearts is acquainted with all acts supposed to be hid from mortal sight.
He sees and hears all that is done and said and keeps a faithful record of words and actions, examining the depths of every heart, as distinctly marked as though there were only one person in the whole world and the attention of heaven were centered upon him. Right thoughts and actions are remembered in heaven, and evil deeds are faithfully recorded unless they are repented of, confessed, and washed away by Jesus' atoning blood. Because of this full knowledge no one can conceal wrongdoing from Him, and each person is answerable at the final judgment and must meet that record. He will finally reward each person as his works have been.
He is a discerner of thoughts as well as a hearer of every word that falls from human lips. He looks upon the heart and sees all its workings, so He hears sincere prayer and knows how to answer. He is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that is asked or thought.
Living Before God
Prayer tells God nothing He does not already know, for He reads hidden thoughts and already knows the history and secrets of life, so there is no need for prayers to be long or loud or to recount those things to Him. The assurance that the Lord knows it all brings comfort amid weariness and discouragement and burdens that are difficult to explain. Fathers and mothers should teach children that the Lord Jesus knows all they do and think, seeing all they do and knowing all they think.
When children do wrong, parents should take them away by themselves, kneel and pray with them, and tell them patiently and kindly that One sees and knows, so that the children see that help is needed and break down and desire help and blessing. This patient, tearful correction without anger does more good than the rod, melts the heart, and leads children so to conduct themselves that the Lord can look upon them and bless them, while the parents are regarded as having discharged their duty to their children. Knowing that one constantly stands in Christ's presence, with every impulse of the heart, every purpose of the soul, and every imagination open to His inspection, should lead to reverence for Him and to courteous, tender, kind, and respectful conduct toward others.
Cherishing habitually the impression that wherever a person is and whatever is done he is in God's presence, with no part of conduct escaping observation and no ways hidden, gives fear to sin, and the young especially should ever remember it. This knowledge should guard everyone who fears God from selfish acts, with the assurance that it always pays in the end to be wholly unselfish in right doing even if never appreciated here in this world of avarice, selfishness, and fraud. People act in God's sight and cannot hide disobedience or excuse it before Him, for no action, purpose, or word escapes His attention.
He sees and understands all dishonesty in planning, all unlawful appropriation of property or means in any degree, and all injustice in dealing with others. He is present and watching in every place and at every hour, seeing whether conduct is faithful or disloyal and deceptive, and no word, action, or inward anger escapes His notice, with each person accountable to Him. When the Holy Spirit works in the heart and mind the life bears good and right fruit, for unlike people who cannot see into the human heart, God sees thoughts even when far beyond human understanding and sees what they will produce. As people do His will He is their helper and God, weighing thoughts and knowing them even from afar.