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 Overseer. — A Psalm by David. Jehovah, Thou hast searched me, and knowest.
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 — Thou hast known my sitting down, And my rising up, Thou hast attended to my thoughts from afar.
3 You observe where I go and when I rest. You're familiar with everything I do.
My path and my couch Thou hast fanned, And [with] all my ways hast been acquainted.
4 Lord, you even know what I'm going to say before I say it.
For there is not a word in my tongue, Lo, O Jehovah, Thou hast known it all!
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 Thou hast besieged me, And Thou dost place on me Thy hand.
6 This amazing knowledge you have is far beyond me, way beyond my understanding!
Knowledge too wonderful for me, It hath been set on high, I am not able for it.
7 Where can I go that you're not already there? Where can I run to escape your presence?
Whither do I go from Thy Spirit? And whither from Thy face do 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], And spread out a couch in Sheol, lo, 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,
I take the wings of morning, I dwell in the uttermost part of the sea,
10 even there your hand would lead me, your right hand would support me.
Also there Thy hand doth lead me, And Thy right hand doth hold me.
11 If I asked the darkness to hide me, and light to become night around me,
And I say, 'Surely darkness bruiseth me, Then night [is] light to 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.
Also darkness hideth not from Thee, And night as day shineth, as [is] darkness so [is] light.
13 You made me from the inside out, shaping me in my mother's womb.
For Thou — Thou hast possessed my reins, Thou dost cover me in my mother's belly.
14 I praise you for making me in such an awesome and wonderful way. What you do is incredible—I realize this completely!
I confess Thee, because that [with] wonders I have been distinguished. Wonderful [are] Thy works, And my soul is knowing [it] 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 substance was not hid from Thee, When I was made in secret, Curiously wrought in the lower part of 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 unformed substance Thine eyes saw, And on Thy book all of them are written, The days they were formed — And not one among them.
17 God, your thoughts are so valuable to me! Taken together, they can't be counted!
And to me how precious have been Thy thoughts, O God, how great hath been 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.
I recount them! than the sand they are more, I have waked, and I am still with Thee.
19 God, if you would only kill the wicked! Murderers, get away from me!
Dost Thou slay, O God, the wicked? Then, men of blood, turn aside from me!
20 When they speak of you they're being deceptively evil. Since they are your enemies, they call on you in vain.
Who exchange Thee for wickedness, Lifted up to vanity [are] Thine enemies.
21 Lord, don't I hate those who hate you? I despise those who rebel against you!
Do not I hate, Jehovah, those hating Thee? And with Thy withstanders grieve myself?
22 I hate them with absolute hatred—they have become my enemies!
[With] perfect hatred I have hated them, Enemies they have 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 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.
And see if a grievous way be in me, And lead me in a way age-during!
