Psalms 139

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

For the end, a Psalm of David. O Lord, you have proved me, and known me.

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

You know my down-sitting and mine up-rising: you understand my thoughts long before.

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

You have traced my path and my bed, and have foreseen all my ways.

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

For there is no unrighteous word in my tongue: behold, O Lord, you have known all things,

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

the last and the first: you have fashioned me, and laid your hand upon me.

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

The knowledge of you is too wonderful for me; it is very difficult, I can’t [attain] to it.

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

Whither shall I go from your Spirit? and whither shall I flee from my presence?

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 should go up to heaven, you are there: if I should go down to hell, you are present. (Sheol h7585)

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

If I should spread my wings [to fly] straight forward, and sojourn at the extremity of the sea, [it would be vain],

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

for even there your hand would guide me, and your right hand would hold me.

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

When I said, Surely the darkness will cover me; even the night [was] light in my luxury.

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

For darkness will not be darkness with you; but night will be light as day: as its darkness, so shall its light [be to you].

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

For you, O Lord, have possessed my reins; you have helped me from my mother's womb.

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 thanks; for you are fearfully wondrous; wondrous are your works; and my soul knows [it] 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 bones, which you made in secret were not hidden from you, nor my substance, 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 unwrought [substance], and all [men] shall be written in your book; they shall be formed by day, though [there should for a time] be no one among them.

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

But your friends, O God, have been greatly honored by me; their rule has been greatly 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 shall be multiplied beyond the sand; I awake, and am still with you.

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

Oh that you would kill the wicked, O God; depart from me, you men of blood.

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

For you will say concerning [their] thought, [that] they shall take 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 them, O Lord, that hate you? and wasted away because of your enemies?

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

I have hated them with perfect hatred; they were counted my enemies.

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

Prove me, O God, and know my heart; examine 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 is any] way of iniquity in me, and lead me in an everlasting way.