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 David, a psalm. O Lord, you search and know me;
2 You have knowledge when I am seated and when I get up, you see my thoughts from far away.
when I sit, when I rise you know it, you perceive my thoughts from afar.
3 You keep watch over my steps and my sleep, and have knowledge of all my ways.
When I walk, when I lie you sift it, familiar with all my ways.
4 For there is not a word on my tongue which is not clear to you, O Lord.
There is not a word on my tongue, but see! Lord, you know it all.
5 I am shut in by you on every side, and you have put your hand on me.
Behind and before you beset me, upon me you lay your hand.
6 Such knowledge is a wonder greater than my powers; it is so high that I may not come near it.
It’s too wonderful for me to know too lofty I cannot attain it.
7 Where may I go from your spirit? how may I go in flight from you?
Whither shall I go from your spirit? Or whither shall I flee from your face?
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 climb up to heaven, you are there: or make Sheol my bed, 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 lift up the wings of the morning and fly to the end of the sea,
10 Even there will I be guided by your hand, and your right hand will keep me.
there also your hand would grasp me, and your right hand take hold of me.
11 If I say, Only let me be covered by the dark, and the light about me be night;
If I say, “Let the darkness cover me, and night be the 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.
The dark is not dark for you, but night is as light as the day.
13 My flesh was made by you, and my parts joined together in my mother's body.
For you did put me together; in my mother’s womb you did weave me.
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 give you praise for my fashioning so full of awe, so wonderful. Your works are wonderful. You knew me 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 bones were not hidden from you, when I was made in secret, and woven in the depths 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 saw all my days: they stood on your book every one written down, before they were fashioned, while none of them yet was mine.
17 How dear are your thoughts to me, O God! how great is the number of them!
But how far, O God, beyond measure are your thoughts! How mighty their sum!
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.
Should I count, they are more than the sand. When I wake, 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.
Will you slay the wicked, O God? And remove from me the bloodthirsty,
20 For they go against you with evil designs, and your haters make sport of your name.
who maliciously defy you and 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 I not hate those who hate you, Lord? Do I not loathe those who resist you?
22 My hate for them is complete; my thoughts of them are as if they were making war on me.
With perfect hatred I hate them, 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, know my heart: test 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 guile be in me; and lead me in the way everlasting.
