Psalms 139

1 For the Leader. A Psalm of David. O LORD, Thou hast searched me, and known me.

Unto the end. A Psalm of David. O Lord, you have examined me, and you have known me.

2 Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, Thou understandest my thought afar off.

You have known my sitting down and my rising up again.

3 Thou measurest my going about and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.

You have understood my thoughts from afar. My path and my fate, you have investigated.

4 For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, Thou knowest it altogether.

And you have foreseen all my ways. For there is no word in my tongue.

5 Thou hast hemmed me in behind and before, and laid Thy hand upon me.

Behold, O Lord, you have known all things: the newest and the very old. You have formed me, and you have placed your hand over me.

6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; too high, I cannot attain unto it.

Your knowledge has become a wonder to me. It has been reinforced, and I am not able to prevail against it.

7 Whither shall I go from Thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from Thy presence?

Where will I go from your Spirit? And where will I flee from your face?

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 ascend into heaven, you are there. If I descend into Hell, you are near. (Sheol h7585)

9 If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;

If I assume my feathers in early morning, and dwell in the utmost parts of the sea,

10 Even there would Thy hand lead me, and Thy right hand would hold me.

even there, your hand will lead me forth, and your right hand will hold me.

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

And I said: Perhaps darkness will overwhelm me, and the night will be my illumination, to my delight.

12 Even the darkness is not too dark for Thee, but the night shineth as the day; the darkness is even as the light.

But darkness will not be impenetrable to you, and night will illuminate like the day: for just as its darkness is, so also is its light.

13 For Thou hast made my reins; Thou hast knit me together in my mother's womb.

For you have possessed my temperament. You have supported me from the womb of my mother.

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 confess to you, for you have been magnified terribly. Your works are miraculous, as my soul knows exceedingly well.

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 bone, which you have made in secret, has not been hidden from you, and my substance is in accord with the lower 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 imperfection, and all this shall be written in your book. Days will be formed, and no one shall be in them.

17 How weighty also are Thy thoughts unto me, O God! How great is the sum of them!

But to me, O God, your friends have been greatly honored. Their first ruler has been exceedingly strengthened.

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.

I will number them, and they will be more numerous than the sand. I rose up, and I am still with you.

19 If Thou but wouldest slay the wicked, O God — depart from me therefore, ye men of blood;

O God, if only you would cut down sinners. You men of blood: depart from me.

20 Who utter Thy name with wicked thought, they take it for falsehood, even Thine enemies —

For you say in thought: They will accept your cities in vain.

21 Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate Thee? And do not I strive with those that rise up against Thee?

Have I not hated those who hated you, Lord, and wasted away because of your enemies?

22 I hate them with utmost hatred; I count them mine enemies.

I have hated them with a perfect hatred, and they have become enemies to me.

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

Examine me, O God, and know my heart. Question me, and know my paths.

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

And see if there might be in me the way of iniquity, and lead me in the way of eternity.