Psalms 139
1 For the end, a Psalm of David. O Lord, you have proved me, and known me.
For the chief musician. A psalm of David. Yahweh, you have examined me, and you know 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 understand my thoughts from far away.
3 You have traced my path and my bed, and have foreseen all my ways.
You observe my path and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.
4 For there is no unrighteous word in my tongue: behold, O Lord, you have known all things,
For before there is a word on my tongue, you know it completely, Yahweh.
5 the last and the first: you have fashioned me, and laid your hand upon me.
Behind me and before me you surround me and place your hand upon me.
6 The knowledge of you is too wonderful for me; it is very difficult, I can’t [attain] to it.
Such knowledge is too much for me; it is too high, and I cannot reach it.
7 Whither shall I go from your Spirit? and whither shall I flee from my presence?
Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from 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 ascend up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, behold, you are there. (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 fly away on the wings of the morning and go to live in the uttermost parts across the sea,
10 for even there your hand would guide me, and your right hand would hold me.
even there your hand will lead me, your right hand will hold on to me.
11 When I said, Surely the darkness will cover me; even the night [was] light in my luxury.
If I said, “Surely the darkness will cover me, and the light will 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 the darkness would not be dark to you. The night would shine like the day, for the darkness and the light are both alike to you.
13 For you, O Lord, have possessed my reins; you have helped me from my mother's womb.
You formed my inner parts; you formed 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 will praise you, for I am wonderfully made. My soul knows this very well.
15 My bones, which you made in secret were not hidden from you, nor my substance, in the lowest parts of the earth.
My bones were not hidden from you when I was made in private, when I was intricately made 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 inside the womb; all the days assigned to me were recorded in your book even before the first one happened.
17 But your friends, O God, have been greatly honoured by me; their rule has been greatly strengthened.
How precious are your thoughts to me, God! How vast is their sum!
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 in number than the sand. 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.
If only you would kill the wicked, God; get away from me, you violent men.
20 For you will say concerning [their] thought, [that] they shall take your cities in vain.
They rebel against you and act deceitfully; your enemies tell lies.
21 Have I not hated them, O Lord, that hate you? and wasted away because of your enemies?
Do I not hate those, Yahweh, who hate you? Do I not despise those who rise up against you?
22 I have hated them with perfect hatred; they were counted my enemies.
I hate them completely; they have become my enemies.
23 Prove me, O God, and know my heart; examine me, and know my paths;
Examine me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts.
24 and see if [there is any] way of iniquity in me, and lead me in an everlasting way.
See if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way.
