Psalms 139
1 [For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David.] LORD, you have searched me, and you know me.
To the chief music-maker. A Psalm. Of David. O Lord, you have knowledge of me, searching out all my secrets.
2 You know my sitting down and my rising up. You perceive my thoughts from afar.
You have knowledge when I am seated and when I get up, you see my thoughts from far away.
3 You search out my path and my lying down, and are 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 on my tongue, but, look, LORD, you know it altogether.
For there is not a word on my tongue which is not clear to you, O Lord.
5 You encircle me behind and in front, and you place your hand upon me.
I am shut in by you on every side, and you have put your hand on me.
6 This knowledge is beyond me. It's lofty. I can't attain it.
Such knowledge is a wonder greater than my powers; it is so high that I may not come near it.
7 Where could I go from your Spirit? Or where could I flee from your presence?
Where may I go from your spirit? how may I go in flight from you?
8 If I ascend up into heaven, you are there. If I make my bed in Sheol, look, you are 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 dawn, and settle 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 your hand will lead me, and your right hand will hold me.
Even there will I be guided by your hand, and your right hand will keep me.
11 If I say, "Surely the darkness will overwhelm me; the light around me will be night;"
If I say, Only let me be covered by the dark, and the light about me be night;
12 even the darkness doesn't hide from you, but the night shines as the day. The darkness is like light to you.
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 you formed my inmost being. You 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 to you, for I am awesomely and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful, and my soul knows that very 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 wasn't hidden from you, when I was made in secret, woven together in the depths 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 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.
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 precious to me are your thoughts, God. How vast 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. When I wake up, I am still with you.
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 only you, God, would kill the wicked. Get away from me, you bloodthirsty men.
If only you would put the sinners to death, O God; go far from me, you men of blood.
20 For they speak against you wickedly. Your enemies take your name in vain.
For they go against you with evil designs, and your haters make sport of your name.
21 LORD, do I not hate those who hate you? Am I not grieved with those who rise up against you?
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 perfect hatred. They have become my enemies.
My hate for them is complete; my thoughts of them are as if they were making war on me.
23 Search me, 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 See if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way.
See if there is any way of sorrow in me, and be my guide in the eternal way.
