Psalms 139
1 For the end, a Psalm of David. O Lord, you have proved me, and known me.
For the music director. A psalm of David. Lord, you have examined me from the inside out—you know everything about me!
2 You know my down-sitting and mine up-rising: you understand my thoughts long before.
You know when I sit down and when I get up. You know what I'm thinking even when I'm a long way away.
3 You have traced my path and my bed, and have foreseen all my ways.
You observe where I go and when I rest. You're familiar with everything I do.
4 For there is no unrighteous word in my tongue: behold, O Lord, you have known all things,
Lord, you even know what I'm going to say before I say it.
5 the last and the first: you have fashioned me, and laid your hand upon me.
You're always there—behind me, in front of me, and all around me. You place your caring hand on me.
6 The knowledge of you is too wonderful for me; it is very difficult, I can’t [attain] to it.
This amazing knowledge you have is far beyond me, way beyond my understanding!
7 Whither shall I go from your Spirit? and whither shall I flee from my presence?
Where can I go that you're not already there? Where can I run to escape your presence?
8 If I should go up to heaven, you are there: if I should go down to hell, you are present. (Sheol h7585)
If I go up to heaven, you are there. If I lie down in Sheol, look—you are there too! (Sheol h7585)
9 If I should spread my wings [to fly] straight forward, and sojourn at the extremity of the sea, [it would be vain],
If I were to fly away on wings of the dawn to the east; if I were to live on the far western shore of the sea,
10 for even there your hand would guide me, and your right hand would hold me.
even there your hand would lead me, your right hand would support me.
11 When I said, Surely the darkness will cover me; even the night [was] light in my luxury.
If I asked the darkness to hide me, and light to become night around me,
12 For darkness will not be darkness with you; but night will be light as day: as its darkness, so shall its light [be to you].
Even darkness would not be dark for you, and the night would be bright as day, for darkness is like light to you.
13 For you, O Lord, have possessed my reins; you have helped me from my mother's womb.
You made me from the inside out, shaping me in my mother's womb.
14 I will give you thanks; for you are fearfully wondrous; wondrous are your works; and my soul knows [it] well.
I praise you for making me in such an awesome and wonderful way. What you do is incredible—I realize this completely!
15 My bones, which you made in secret were not hidden from you, nor my substance, in the lowest parts of the earth.
My growing body was not hidden from you as I was formed in secret, as I was intricately put together “in the depths of the earth.”
16 Your eyes saw my unwrought [substance], and all [men] shall be written in your book; they shall be formed by day, though [there should for a time] be no one amongst them.
You saw me as an embryo, and in your book all my days were written down—the days that were made for me before any of them existed.
17 But your friends, O God, have been greatly honoured by me; their rule has been greatly strengthened.
God, your thoughts are so valuable to me! Taken together, they can't be counted!
18 I will number them, and they shall be multiplied beyond the sand; I awake, and am still with you.
If I tried to count them, they would be more than every grain of sand. Yet when I awake I am still with you.
19 Oh that you would kill the wicked, O God; depart from me, you men of blood.
God, if you would only kill the wicked! Murderers, get away from me!
20 For you will say concerning [their] thought, [that] they shall take your cities in vain.
When they speak of you they're being deceptively evil. Since they are your enemies, they call on you in vain.
21 Have I not hated them, O Lord, that hate you? and wasted away because of your enemies?
Lord, don't I hate those who hate you? I despise those who rebel against you!
22 I have hated them with perfect hatred; they were counted my enemies.
I hate them with absolute hatred—they have become my enemies!
23 Prove me, O God, and know my heart; examine me, and know my paths;
Examine me carefully, God, so you can be sure of my true feelings. Check me out so you can know what I really think.
24 and see if [there is any] way of iniquity in me, and lead me in an everlasting way.
Please show me if I'm following any kind of idol, and lead me along the path of eternal life.
