Psalms 139
1 For the music director. A psalm of David. Lord, you have examined me from the inside out—you know everything about me!
To the Chief Musician, David’s. A Melody. O Yahweh! thou hast searched me, and observed:
2 You know when I sit down and when I get up. You know what I'm thinking even when I'm a long way away.
Thou, hast observed my downsitting and mine uprising, Thou hast given heed to my desire, from afar:
3 You observe where I go and when I rest. You're familiar with everything I do.
My path and my couch, hast thou examined, and, all my ways, thou well knowest.
4 Lord, you even know what I'm going to say before I say it.
Surely there hath not been a word on my tongue, [but] behold! O Yahweh, thou hast observed it on every side.
5 You're always there—behind me, in front of me, and all around me. You place your caring hand on me.
Behind and before, hast thou shut me in, and hast laid upon me thy hand: —
6 This amazing knowledge you have is far beyond me, way beyond my understanding!
Knowledge, too wonderful, for me! high, I cannot attain to it!
7 Where can I go that you're not already there? Where can I run to escape your presence?
Whither can I go from thy spirit? or whither, from thy face, can I flee?
8 If I go up to heaven, you are there. If I lie down in Sheol, look—you are there too! (Sheol h7585)
If I ascend the heavens, there, thou art! If I spread out hades as my couch, behold thee! (Sheol h7585)
9 If I were to fly away on wings of the dawn to the east; if I were to live on the far western shore of the sea,
If I mount the wings of the dawn, settle down in the region beyond the sea,
10 even there your hand would lead me, your right hand would support me.
Even there, thy hand shall lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.
11 If I asked the darkness to hide me, and light to become night around me,
If I say, Surely, darkness, shall cover me! then, night, is light about me.
12 Even darkness would not be dark for you, and the night would be bright as day, for darkness is like light to you.
Even darkness, will not conceal from thee, —but, night, like day, will shine, So is the darkness, as the light!
13 You made me from the inside out, shaping me in my mother's womb.
For, thou, didst possess thyself of my reins, thou didst weave me together in the womb of my mother.
14 I praise you for making me in such an awesome and wonderful way. What you do is incredible—I realize this completely!
I thank thee, in that fearfully was my being distinguished, Wonderful are thy works, and, mine own soul, is observing [them] intently!
15 My growing body was not hidden from you as I was formed in secret, as I was intricately put together “in the depths of the earth.”
My substance was not hid from thee, —when I was made in secret, when I was skilfully figured in the lower parts of the earth.
16 You saw me as an embryo, and in your book all my days were written down—the days that were made for me before any of them existed.
Mine unfinished substance, thine eyes beheld, and, in thy book, all the parts thereof were written, —the days they should be fashioned! while yet there was not one among them.
17 God, your thoughts are so valuable to me! Taken together, they can't be counted!
To me, then, how precious have thy desires become, O GOD! How numerous, the heads of them!
18 If I tried to count them, they would be more than every grain of sand. Yet when I awake I am still with you.
I would recount them! Beyond the sands, they multiply, I rouse myself—and am still with thee.
19 God, if you would only kill the wicked! Murderers, get away from me!
Wilt thou not, O GOD, slay the lawless one? Therefore, ye men of bloodshed, depart from me!
20 When they speak of you they're being deceptively evil. Since they are your enemies, they call on you in vain.
For they speak of thee wickedly, Thy foes lift up [their hand] unto falsehood.
21 Lord, don't I hate those who hate you? I despise those who rebel against you!
Do I not hate, them who hate thee, O Yahweh? And loathe, them who rise up against thee?
22 I hate them with absolute hatred—they have become my enemies!
With completeness of hatred, I hate them, As enemies, have they become to me.
23 Examine me carefully, God, so you can be sure of my true feelings. Check me out so you can know what I really think.
Search me, O GOD, and observe my heart, Try me, and observe my cares;
24 Please show me if I'm following any kind of idol, and lead me along the path of eternal life.
And see if there be any idol-way in me, and lead me in a way age-abiding.
