Psalms 139
1 For the Leader. A Psalm of David. O LORD, Thou hast searched me, and known me.
To the chief music-maker. A Psalm. Of David. O Lord, you have knowledge of me, searching out all my secrets.
2 Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, Thou understandest my thought afar off.
You have knowledge when I am seated and when I get up, you see my thoughts from far away.
3 Thou measurest my going about and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.
You keep watch over my steps and my sleep, and have knowledge of all my ways.
4 For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, Thou knowest it altogether.
For there is not a word on my tongue which is not clear to you, O Lord.
5 Thou hast hemmed me in behind and before, and laid Thy hand upon me.
I am shut in by you on every side, and you have put your hand on me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; too high, I cannot attain unto it.
Such knowledge is a wonder greater than my powers; it is so high that I may not come near it.
7 Whither shall I go from Thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from Thy presence?
Where may I go from your spirit? how may I go in flight from you?
8 If I ascend up into heaven, Thou art there; if I make my bed in the nether-world, behold, Thou art there. (Sheol h7585)
If I go up to heaven, you are there: or if I make my bed in the underworld, you are there. (Sheol h7585)
9 If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;
If I take the wings of the morning, and go to the farthest parts of the sea;
10 Even there would Thy hand lead me, and Thy right hand would hold me.
Even there will I be guided by your hand, and your right hand will keep me.
11 And if I say: 'Surely the darkness shall envelop me, and the light about me shall be night';
If I say, Only let me be covered by the dark, and the light about me be night;
12 Even the darkness is not too dark for Thee, but the night shineth as the day; the darkness is even as the light.
Even the dark is not dark to you; the night is as bright as the day: for dark and light are the same to you.
13 For Thou hast made my reins; Thou hast knit me together in my mother's womb.
My flesh was made by you, and my parts joined together in my mother's body.
14 I will give thanks unto Thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; wonderful are Thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.
I will give you praise, for I am strangely and delicately formed; your works are great wonders, and of this my soul is fully conscious.
15 My frame was not hidden from Thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
My frame was not unseen by you when I was made secretly, and strangely formed in the lowest parts of the earth.
16 Thine eyes did see mine unformed substance, and in Thy book they were all written — even the days that were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.
Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book all my days were recorded, even those which were purposed before they had come into being.
17 How weighty also are Thy thoughts unto me, O God! How great is the sum of them!
How dear are your thoughts to me, O God! how great is the number of them!
18 If I would count them, they are more in number than the sand; were I to come to the end of them, I would still be with Thee.
If I made up their number, it would be more than the grains of sand; when I am awake, I am still with you.
19 If Thou but wouldest slay the wicked, O God — depart from me therefore, ye men of blood;
If only you would put the sinners to death, O God; go far from me, you men of blood.
20 Who utter Thy name with wicked thought, they take it for falsehood, even Thine enemies —
For they go against you with evil designs, and your haters make sport of your name.
21 Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate Thee? And do not I strive with those that rise up against Thee?
Are not your haters hated by me, O Lord? are not those who are lifted up against you a cause of grief to me?
22 I hate them with utmost hatred; I count them mine enemies.
My hate for them is complete; my thoughts of them are as if they were making war on me.
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart, try me, and know my thoughts;
O God, let the secrets of my heart be uncovered, and let my wandering thoughts be tested:
24 And see if there be any way in me that is grievous, and lead me in the way everlasting.
See if there is any way of sorrow in me, and be my guide in the eternal way.
