Psalms 139
1 O lord, you have searched me, and known me.
For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David. LORD, you have searched me, and you know me.
2 You know my sitting down and mine rising up, you understand my thought far off.
You know my sitting down and my rising up. You perceive my thoughts from afar.
3 You compass my path and my lying down, and are 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 LORD, you know it altogether.
For there is not a word on my tongue, but behold, LORD, you know it altogether.
5 You have beset me behind and before, and laid your 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 Where shall I go from your spirit? or where shall I flee from your presence?
Where could I go from your Spirit? Or where could I flee from your presence?
8 If I ascend up into heaven, you are there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, you are 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 your hand lead me, and your 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 hides not from you; but the night shines as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to you.
even the darkness doesn’t hide from you, but the night shines as the day. The darkness is like light to you.
13 For you have possessed my reins: you have 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 you; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are your works; and that my soul knows 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 you, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the low 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 your eyes did see my substance, yet being imperfect; and in your 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 your thoughts unto me, O God! 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 you.
If I would count them, they are more in number than the sand. When I wake up, I am still with you.
19 Surely you will slay the wicked, O God: depart from me therefore, all of you bloody men.
If only you, God, would kill the wicked. Get away from me, you bloodthirsty men!
20 For they speak against you wickedly, and your enemies take your name in vain.
For they speak against you wickedly. Your enemies take your name in vain.
21 Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate you? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against you?
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 God, 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.
