Psalms 139
1 Unto the end. A Psalm of David. O Lord, you have examined me, and you have known me.
For the leader. Of David, a psalm. O Lord, you search and know me;
2 You have known my sitting down and my rising up again.
when I sit, when I rise you know it, you perceive my thoughts from afar.
3 You have understood my thoughts from afar. My path and my fate, you have investigated.
When I walk, when I lie you sift it, familiar with all my ways.
4 And you have foreseen all my ways. For there is no word in my tongue.
There is not a word on my tongue, but see! Lord, you know it all.
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.
Behind and before you beset me, upon me you lay your hand.
6 Your knowledge has become a wonder to me. It has been reinforced, and I am not able to prevail against it.
It’s too wonderful for me to know too lofty I cannot attain it.
7 Where will I go from your Spirit? And where will I flee from your face?
Whither shall I go from your spirit? Or whither shall I flee from your face?
If I climb up to heaven, you are there: or make Sheol my bed, 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 lift up the wings of the morning and fly to the end of the sea,
10 even there, your hand will lead me forth, and your right hand will hold me.
there also your hand would grasp me, and your right hand take hold of me.
11 And I said: Perhaps darkness will overwhelm me, and the night will be my illumination, to my delight.
If I say, ‘Let the darkness cover me, and night be the 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.
The dark is not dark for you, but night is as light as the day.
13 For you have possessed my temperament. You have supported me from the womb of my mother.
For you did put me together; in my mother’s womb you did weave me.
14 I will confess to you, for you have been magnified terribly. Your works are miraculous, as my soul knows exceedingly well.
I give you praise for my fashioning so full of awe, so wonderful. Your works are wonderful. You knew me 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 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 imperfection, and all this shall be written in your book. Days will be formed, and no one shall be in them.
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 But to me, O God, your friends have been greatly honored. Their first ruler has been exceedingly strengthened.
But how far, O God, beyond measure are your thoughts! How mighty their sum!
18 I will number them, and they will be more numerous than the sand. I rose up, and I am still with you.
Should I count, they are more than the sand. When I wake, I am still with you.
19 O God, if only you would cut down sinners. You men of blood: depart from me.
Will you slay the wicked, O God? And remove from me the bloodthirsty,
20 For you say in thought: They will accept your cities in vain.
who maliciously defy you and take your name in vain.
21 Have I not hated those who hated you, Lord, and wasted away because of your enemies?
Do I not hate those who hate you, Lord? Do I not loathe those who resist you?
22 I have hated them with a perfect hatred, and they have become enemies to me.
With perfect hatred I hate them, I count them my enemies.
23 Examine me, O God, and know my heart. Question me, and know my paths.
Search me, O God, know my heart: test 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 guile be in me; and lead me in the way everlasting.
