Psalms 139
1 Unto the end. A Psalm of David. O Lord, you have examined me, and you have known me.
O lord, you have searched me, and known me.
2 You have known my sitting down and my rising up again.
You know my sitting down and mine rising up, you understand my thought far off.
3 You have understood my thoughts from afar. My path and my fate, you have investigated.
You compass my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways.
4 And you have foreseen all my ways. For there is no word in my tongue.
For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, you know it altogether.
5 Behold, O Lord, you have known all things: the newest and the very old. You have formed me, and you have placed your hand over me.
You have beset me behind and before, and laid your hand upon me.
6 Your knowledge has become a wonder to me. It has been reinforced, and I am not able to prevail against it.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.
7 Where will I go from your Spirit? And where will I flee from your face?
Where shall I go from your spirit? or where shall I flee from your presence?
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 assume my feathers in early morning, and dwell in the utmost parts of the sea,
If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;
10 even there, your hand will lead me forth, and your right hand will hold me.
Even there shall your hand lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.
11 And I said: Perhaps darkness will overwhelm me, and the night will be my illumination, to my delight.
If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.
12 But darkness will not be impenetrable to you, and night will illuminate like the day: for just as its darkness is, so also is its light.
Yea, the darkness hides not from you; but the night shines as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to you.
13 For you have possessed my temperament. You have supported me from the womb of my mother.
For you have possessed my reins: you have covered me in my mother's womb.
14 I will confess to you, for you have been magnified terribly. Your works are miraculous, as my soul knows exceedingly well.
I will praise you; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are your works; and that my soul knows right well.
15 My bone, which you have made in secret, has not been hidden from you, and my substance is in accord with the lower parts of the earth.
My substance was not hid from you, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the low parts of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my imperfection, and all this shall be written in your book. Days will be formed, and no one shall be in them.
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 But to me, O God, your friends have been greatly honored. Their first ruler has been exceedingly strengthened.
How precious also are your thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!
18 I will number them, and they will be more numerous than the sand. I rose up, and 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 O God, if only you would cut down sinners. You men of blood: depart from me.
Surely you will slay the wicked, O God: depart from me therefore, all of you bloody men.
20 For you say in thought: They will accept your cities in vain.
For they speak against you wickedly, and your enemies take your name in vain.
21 Have I not hated those who hated you, Lord, and wasted away because of your enemies?
Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate you? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against you?
22 I have hated them with a perfect hatred, and they have become enemies to me.
I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies.
23 Examine me, O God, and know my heart. Question me, and know my paths.
Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
24 And see if there might be in me the way of iniquity, and lead me in the way of eternity.
And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
