Psalms 139
1 To the chief music-maker. A Psalm. Of David. O Lord, you have knowledge of me, searching out all my secrets.
“For the leader of the music. A psalm of David.” O LORD! thou hast 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.
Thou knowest my sitting-down and my rising-up; Thou understandest my thoughts from afar!
3 You keep watch over my steps and my sleep, and have knowledge of all my ways.
Thou seest my path and my lying-down, And art acquainted with all my ways!
4 For there is not a word on my tongue which is not clear to you, O Lord.
For before the word is upon my tongue, Behold, O LORD! thou knowest it altogether!
5 I am shut in by you on every side, and you have put your hand on me.
Thou besettest me behind and before, And layest thine hand upon 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?
Whither shall I go from thy spirit, And whither shall I flee from thy 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 into heaven, thou art there! If I make my bed in the underworld, behold, thou art 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 remotest parts of the sea,
10 Even there will I be guided by your hand, and your right hand will keep me.
Even there shall thy hand lead me, And thy 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.
Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee, But the night shineth as the day; The darkness and the light are both alike to thee!
13 My flesh was made by you, and my parts joined together in my mother's body.
For thou didst form my reins; Thou didst weave 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 thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvellous are thy works, And this my soul knoweth full 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 frame was not hidden from thee, When I was made in secret. When I was curiously wrought in the lower 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.
Thine eyes did see my substance, while yet unformed, And in thy book was every thing written; My days were appointed before one of them existed.
17 How dear are your thoughts to me, O God! how great is the number of them!
How precious to me are thy thoughts, 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 would outnumber the sand: When I awake, I am still with thee!
19 If only you would put the sinners to death, O God; go far from me, you men of blood.
O that thou wouldst slay the wicked, O God! Ye men of blood, depart from me!
20 For they go against you with evil designs, and your haters make sport of your name.
For they speak against thee wickedly; Thine enemies utter thy name for falsehood.
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 I not hate them that hate thee, O LORD? Do I not abhor them that rise up against thee?
22 My hate for them is complete; my thoughts of them are as if they were making war on me.
Yea, I hate them with perfect hatred; I count them mine 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 the way of trouble be within me, And lead me in the way everlasting!
