Psalms 139
1 O YHWH, thou hast searched me, and known me.
For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David. LORD, you have searched me, and you know me.
2 Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.
You know my sitting down and my rising up. You perceive my thoughts from afar.
3 Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.
You search out my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways.
4 For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O YHWH, thou knowest it altogether.
For there is not a word on my tongue, but behold, LORD, you know it altogether.
5 Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.
You hem me in behind and before. You laid your hand on me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.
This knowledge is beyond me. It’s lofty. I can’t attain it.
7 Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?
Where could I go from your Spirit? Or where could I flee from your presence?
8 If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. (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 take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;
If I take the wings of the dawn, and settle in the uttermost parts of the sea,
10 Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.
even there your hand will lead me, and your right hand will hold me.
11 If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.
If I say, “Surely the darkness will overwhelm me. The light around me will be night,”
12 Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.
even the darkness doesn’t hide from you, but the night shines as the day. The darkness is like light to you.
13 For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb.
For you formed my inmost being. You knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.
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 substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts 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 Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.
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 How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O El! how great is the sum of them!
How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is their sum!
18 If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.
If I would count them, they are more in number than the sand. When I wake up, I am still with you.
19 Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O Eloah: depart from me therefore, ye bloody men.
If only you, God, would kill the wicked. Get away from me, you bloodthirsty men!
20 For they speak against thee wickedly, and thine enemies take thy name in vain.
For they speak against you wickedly. Your enemies take your name in vain.
21 Do not I hate them, O YHWH, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?
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 perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies.
I hate them with perfect hatred. They have become my enemies.
23 Search me, O El, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
Search me, God, and know my heart. Try me, and know my thoughts.
24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
See if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way.
