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!
For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David. LORD, you have searched me, and you know me.
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.
You know my sitting down and my rising up. You perceive my thoughts from afar.
3 You observe where I go and when I rest. You're familiar with everything I do.
You search out my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways.
4 Lord, you even know what I'm going to say before I say it.
For there is not a word on my tongue, but behold, LORD, you know it altogether.
5 You're always there—behind me, in front of me, and all around me. You place your caring hand on me.
You hem me in behind and before. You laid your hand on me.
6 This amazing knowledge you have is far beyond me, way beyond my understanding!
This knowledge is beyond me. It’s lofty. I can’t attain it.
7 Where can I go that you're not already there? Where can I run to escape your presence?
Where could I go from your Spirit? Or where could I flee from your presence?
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 up into heaven, you are there. If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, you are there! (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 take the wings of the dawn, and settle in the uttermost parts of the sea,
10 even there your hand would lead me, your right hand would support me.
even there your hand will lead me, and your right hand will hold me.
11 If I asked the darkness to hide me, and light to become night around me,
If I say, “Surely the darkness will overwhelm me. The light around me will be night,”
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 the darkness doesn’t hide from you, but the night shines as the day. The darkness is like light to you.
13 You made me from the inside out, shaping me in my mother's womb.
For you formed my inmost being. You knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you for making me in such an awesome and wonderful way. What you do is incredible—I realize this completely!
I will give thanks to you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful. My soul knows that very well.
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 frame wasn’t hidden from you, when I was made in secret, woven together in the depths 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.
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 God, your thoughts are so valuable to me! Taken together, they can't be counted!
How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is their sum!
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.
If I would count them, they are more in number than the sand. When I wake up, I am still with you.
19 God, if you would only kill the wicked! Murderers, get away from me!
If only you, God, would kill the wicked. Get away from me, you bloodthirsty men!
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 against you wickedly. Your enemies take your name in vain.
21 Lord, don't I hate those who hate you? I despise those who rebel against you!
LORD, don’t I hate those who hate you? Am I not grieved with those who rise up against you?
22 I hate them with absolute hatred—they have become my enemies!
I hate them with perfect hatred. They have become my enemies.
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, God, and know my heart. Try me, and know my thoughts.
24 Please show me if I'm following any kind of idol, and lead me along the path of eternal life.
See if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way.
