Psalms 139
1 “For the leader of the music. A psalm of David.” O LORD! thou hast searched me and known me!
For the leader. Of David, a psalm. O Lord, you search and know me;
2 Thou knowest my sitting-down and my rising-up; Thou understandest my thoughts from afar!
when I sit, when I rise you know it, you perceive my thoughts from afar.
3 Thou seest my path and my lying-down, And art acquainted with all my ways!
When I walk, when I lie you sift it, familiar with all my ways.
4 For before the word is upon my tongue, Behold, O LORD! thou knowest it altogether!
There is not a word on my tongue, but see! Lord, you know it all.
5 Thou besettest me behind and before, And layest thine hand upon me!
Behind and before you beset me, upon me you lay your hand.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is high, I cannot attain to it!
It’s too wonderful for me to know too lofty I cannot attain it.
7 Whither shall I go from thy spirit, And whither shall I flee from thy presence?
Whither shall I go from your spirit? Or whither shall I flee from your face?
8 If I ascend into heaven, thou art there! If I make my bed in the underworld, behold, thou art there! (Sheol h7585)
If I climb up to heaven, you are there: or make Sheol my bed, you are there. (Sheol h7585)
9 If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the remotest parts of the sea,
If I lift up the wings of the morning and fly to the end of the sea,
10 Even there shall thy hand lead me, And thy right hand shall hold me!
there also your hand would grasp me, and your right hand take hold of me.
11 If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me;” Even the night shall be light about me.
If I say, “Let the darkness cover me, and night be the light about me,”
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!
The dark is not dark for you, but night is as light as the day.
13 For thou didst form my reins; Thou didst weave me in my mother's womb.
For you did put me together; in my mother’s womb you did weave me.
14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvellous are thy works, And this my soul knoweth full well!
I give you praise for my fashioning so full of awe, so wonderful. Your works are wonderful. You knew me right well;
15 My frame was not hidden from thee, When I was made in secret. When I was curiously wrought in the lower parts of the earth.
my bones were not hidden from you, when I was made in secret, and woven in the depths of the earth.
16 Thine eyes did see my substance, while yet unformed, And in thy book was every thing written; My days were appointed before one of them existed.
Your eyes saw all my days: they stood on your book every one written down, before they were fashioned, while none of them yet was mine.
17 How precious to me are thy thoughts, O God! How great is the sum of them!
But how far, O God, beyond measure are your thoughts! How mighty their sum!
18 If I should count them, they would outnumber the sand: When I awake, I am still with thee!
Should I count, they are more than the sand. When I wake, I am still with you.
19 O that thou wouldst slay the wicked, O God! Ye men of blood, depart from me!
Will you slay the wicked, O God? And remove from me the bloodthirsty,
20 For they speak against thee wickedly; Thine enemies utter thy name for falsehood.
who maliciously defy you and take your name in vain.
21 Do I not hate them that hate thee, O LORD? Do I not abhor them that rise up against thee?
Do I not hate those who hate you, Lord? Do I not loathe those who resist you?
22 Yea, I hate them with perfect hatred; I count them mine enemies.
With perfect hatred I hate them, I count them my enemies.
23 Search me, O God! and know my heart; Try me, and know my thoughts;
Search me, O God, know my heart: test me, and know my thoughts,
24 And see if the way of trouble be within me, And lead me in the way everlasting!
and see if guile be in me; and lead me in the way everlasting.
