Psalms 139:20 (YLT)

Passage

Who exchange Thee for wickedness, Lifted up to vanity <FI>are<Fi> Thine enemies.

Nearby Context

Psalms 139:18 I recount them! than the sand they are more, I have waked, and I am still with Thee.

Psalms 139:19 Dost Thou slay, O God, the wicked? Then, men of blood, turn aside from me!

Psalms 139:20 Who exchange Thee for wickedness, Lifted up to vanity <FI>are<Fi> Thine enemies.

Psalms 139:21 Do not I hate, Jehovah, those hating Thee? And with Thy withstanders grieve myself?

Psalms 139:22 <FI> With<Fi> perfect hatred I have hated them, Enemies they have become to me.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "exchange", "thee", "wickedness", "lifted", "vanity", "thine", and "enemies". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "exchange" and "thee", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 19's "Dost Thou slay O God the wicked..." into verse 21's "Do not I hate Jehovah those hating...", so "exchange" and "thee" belong inside that flow. In Psalms context, the local focus is worship, trust, the LORD's kingship, and covenant mercy.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "exchange" and "thee" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.