Psalms 139
1 To the chief music-maker. A Psalm. Of David. O Lord, you have knowledge of me, searching out all my secrets.
O lord, you have searched me, and known me.
2 You have knowledge when I am seated and when I get up, you see my thoughts from far away.
You know my sitting down and my rising up, you understand my thought afar off.
3 You keep watch over my steps and my sleep, and have knowledge of all my ways.
You compass my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways.
4 For there is not a word on my tongue which is not clear to you, O Lord.
For there is not a word in my tongue, but, see, O LORD, you know it altogether.
5 I am shut in by you on every side, and you have put your hand on me.
You have beset me behind and before, and laid your hand on me.
6 Such knowledge is a wonder greater than my powers; it is so high that I may not come near it.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain to it.
7 Where may I go from your spirit? how may I go in flight from you?
Where shall I go from your spirit? or where shall I flee from your presence?
8 If I go up to heaven, you are there: or if I make my bed in the underworld, you are there. (Sheol h7585)
If I ascend up into heaven, you are there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, you are there. (Sheol h7585)
9 If I take the wings of the morning, and go to the farthest parts of the sea;
If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;
10 Even there will I be guided by your hand, and your right hand will keep me.
Even there shall your hand lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.
11 If I say, Only let me be covered by the dark, and the light about me be night;
If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.
12 Even the dark is not dark to you; the night is as bright as the day: for dark and light are the same to you.
Yes, the darkness hides not from you; but the night shines as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to you.
13 My flesh was made by you, and my parts joined together in my mother's body.
For you have possessed my reins: you have covered me in my mother’s womb.
14 I will give you praise, for I am strangely and delicately formed; your works are great wonders, and of this my soul is fully conscious.
I will praise you; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are your works; and that my soul knows right well.
15 My frame was not unseen by you when I was made secretly, and strangely formed in the lowest parts of the earth.
My substance was not hid from you, when I was made in secret, and curiously worked in the lowest parts of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book all my days were recorded, even those which were purposed before they had come into being.
Your eyes did see my substance, yet being imperfect; and in your book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.
17 How dear are your thoughts to me, O God! how great is the number of them!
How precious also are your thoughts to me, O God! how great is the sum of them!
18 If I made up their number, it would be more than the grains of sand; when I am awake, I am still with you.
If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with you.
19 If only you would put the sinners to death, O God; go far from me, you men of blood.
Surely you will slay the wicked, O God: depart from me therefore, you bloody men.
20 For they go against you with evil designs, and your haters make sport of your name.
For they speak against you wickedly, and your enemies take your name in vain.
21 Are not your haters hated by me, O Lord? are not those who are lifted up against you a cause of grief to me?
Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate you? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against you?
22 My hate for them is complete; my thoughts of them are as if they were making war on me.
I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them my enemies.
23 O God, let the secrets of my heart be uncovered, and let my wandering thoughts be tested:
Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
24 See if there is any way of sorrow in me, and be my guide in the eternal way.
And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
