Psalms 139

1 To the chief Musician. A Psalm of David. Jehovah, thou hast searched me, and known [me].

For the end, a Psalm of David. O Lord, thou hast proved me, and known me.

2 Thou knowest my down-sitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off;

Thou knowest my down-sitting and mine up-rising: thou understandest my thoughts long before.

3 Thou searchest out my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways;

Thou hast traced my path and my bed, and hast foreseen all my ways.

4 For there is not yet a word on my tongue, [but] lo, O Jehovah, thou knowest it altogether.

For there is no unrighteous word in my tongue: behold, O Lord, thou hast known all things,

5 Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thy hand upon me.

the last and the first: thou hast fashioned me, and laid thine hand upon me.

6 O knowledge too wonderful for me! it is high, I cannot [attain] unto it.

The knowledge of thee is too wonderful for me; it is very difficult, I cannot [attain] to it.

7 Whither shall I go from thy Spirit? and whither flee from thy presence?

Whither shall I go from thy Spirit? and whither shall I flee from my presence?

8 If I ascend up into the heavens thou art there; or if I make my bed in Sheol, behold, thou [art there]; (Sheol h7585)

If I should go up to heaven, thou art there: if I should go down to hell, thou art present. (Sheol h7585)

9 [If] I take the wings of the dawn [and] dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,

If I should spread my wings [to fly] straight forward, and sojourn at the extremity of the sea, [it would be vain],

10 Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.

for even there thy hand would guide me, and thy right hand would hold me.

11 And if I say, Surely darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night;

When I said, Surely the darkness will cover me; even the night [was] light in my luxury.

12 Even darkness hideth not from thee, and the night shineth as the day: the darkness is as the light.

For darkness will not be darkness with thee; but night will be light as day: as its darkness, so shall its light [be to thee].

13 For thou hast possessed my reins; thou didst cover me in my mother's womb.

For thou, O Lord, hast possessed my reins; thou hast helped me from my mother's womb.

14 I will praise thee, for I am fearfully, wonderfully made. Marvellous are thy works; and [that] my soul knoweth right well.

I will give thee thanks; for thou art fearfully wondrous; wondrous are thy works; and my soul knows [it] well.

15 My bones were not hidden from thee when I was made in secret, curiously wrought in the lower parts of the earth.

My bones, which thou madest in secret were not hidden from thee, nor my substance, in the lowest parts of the earth.

16 Thine eyes did see my unformed substance, and in thy book all [my members] were written; [during many] days were they fashioned, when [as yet] there was none of them.

Thine eyes saw my unwrought [substance], and all [men] shall be written in thy book; they shall be formed by day, though [there should for a time] be no one among them.

17 But how precious are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!

But thy friends, O God, have been greatly honoured by me; their rule has been greatly strengthened.

18 [If] I would count them, they are more in number than the sand. When I awake, I am still with thee.

I will number them, and they shall be multiplied beyond the sand; I awake, and am still with thee.

19 Oh that thou wouldest slay the wicked, O God! And ye men of blood, depart from me.

Oh that thou wouldest slay the wicked, O God; depart from me, ye men of blood.

20 For they speak of thee wickedly, they take [thy name] in vain, thine enemies.

For thou wilt say concerning [their] thought, [that] they shall take thy cities in vain.

21 Do not I hate them, O Jehovah, that hate thee? and do not I loathe them that rise up against thee?

Have I not hated them, O Lord, that hate thee? and wasted away because of thine enemies?

22 I hate them with perfect hatred; I account them mine enemies.

I have hated them with perfect hatred; they were counted my enemies.

23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; prove me, and know my thoughts;

Prove me, O God, and know my heart; examine me, and know my paths;

24 And see if there be any grievous way in me; and lead me in the way everlasting.

and see if [there is any] way of iniquity in me, and lead me in an everlasting way.