Psalms 139
1 Unto the end. A Psalm of David. O Lord, you have examined me, and you have known me.
[For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David.] YHWH, you have searched me, and you know me.
2 You have known my sitting down and my rising up again.
You know my sitting down and my rising up. You perceive my thoughts from afar.
3 You have understood my thoughts from afar. My path and my fate, you have investigated.
You search out 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 on my tongue, but, look, YHWH, 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 encircle me behind and in front, and you place 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.
This knowledge is beyond me. It's lofty. I can't attain it.
7 Where will I go from your Spirit? And where will I flee from your face?
Where could I go from your Spirit? Or where could I flee from your presence?
If I ascend up into heaven, you are there. If I make my bed in Sheol, look, 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 dawn, and settle 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 your hand will lead me, and your right hand will 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 will overwhelm me; the light around me will be night;"
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.
even the darkness doesn't hide from you, but the night shines as the day. The darkness is like light to you.
13 For you have possessed my temperament. You have supported me from the womb of my mother.
For you formed my inmost being. You knit me together 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 give thanks to you, for I am awesomely and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful, and my soul knows that very 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 frame wasn't hidden from you, when I was made in secret, woven together in the depths 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 saw my body. In your book they were all written, the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there were none of them.
17 But to me, O God, your friends have been greatly honored. Their first ruler has been exceedingly strengthened.
How precious to me are your thoughts, God. How vast 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 would count them, they are more in number than the sand. When I wake up, I am still with you.
19 O God, if only you would cut down sinners. You men of blood: depart from me.
If only you, God, would kill the wicked. Get away from me, you bloodthirsty men.
20 For you say in thought: They will accept your cities in vain.
For they speak against you wickedly. Your enemies take your name in vain.
21 Have I not hated those who hated you, Lord, and wasted away because of your enemies?
YHWH, do I not hate those who hate you? Am I not grieved with those who 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. They have become my enemies.
23 Examine me, O God, and know my heart. Question me, and know my paths.
Search me, 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.
See if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way.
