Psalms 139
1 To the Chief Musician, David’s. A Melody. O Yahweh! thou hast searched me, and observed:
For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David. Yahweh, you have searched me, and you know me.
2 Thou, hast observed my downsitting and mine uprising, Thou hast given heed to my desire, from afar:
You know my sitting down and my rising up. You perceive my thoughts from afar.
3 My path and my couch, hast thou examined, and, all my ways, thou well knowest.
You search out my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways.
4 Surely there hath not been a word on my tongue, [but] behold! O Yahweh, thou hast observed it on every side.
For there is not a word on my tongue, but behold, Yahweh, you know it altogether.
5 Behind and before, hast thou shut me in, and hast laid upon me thy hand: —
You hem me in behind and before. You laid your hand on me.
6 Knowledge, too wonderful, for me! high, I cannot attain to it!
This knowledge is beyond me. It’s lofty. I can’t attain it.
7 Whither can I go from thy spirit? or whither, from thy face, can I flee?
Where could I go from your Spirit? Or where could I flee from your presence?
8 If I ascend the heavens, there, thou art! If I spread out hades as my couch, behold thee! (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 mount the wings of the dawn, settle down in the region beyond the sea,
If I take the wings of the dawn, and settle in the uttermost parts of the sea,
10 Even there, thy hand shall 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, darkness, shall cover me! then, night, is light about me.
If I say, “Surely the darkness will overwhelm me. The light around me will be night,”
12 Even darkness, will not conceal from thee, —but, night, like day, will shine, So is the darkness, as the light!
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, didst possess thyself of my reins, thou didst weave me together in the womb of my mother.
For you formed my inmost being. You knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I thank thee, in that fearfully was my being distinguished, Wonderful are thy works, and, mine own soul, is observing [them] intently!
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, when I was skilfully figured in the lower 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 Mine unfinished substance, thine eyes beheld, and, in thy book, all the parts thereof were written, —the days they should be fashioned! while yet there was not one among 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 To me, then, how precious have thy desires become, O GOD! How numerous, the heads of them!
How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is their sum!
18 I would recount them! Beyond the sands, they multiply, I rouse myself—and 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 Wilt thou not, O GOD, slay the lawless one? Therefore, ye men of bloodshed, depart from me!
If only you, God, would kill the wicked. Get away from me, you bloodthirsty men!
20 For they speak of thee wickedly, Thy foes lift up [their hand] unto falsehood.
For they speak against you wickedly. Your enemies take your name in vain.
21 Do I not hate, them who hate thee, O Yahweh? And loathe, them who rise up against thee?
Yahweh, don’t I hate those who hate you? Am I not grieved with those who rise up against you?
22 With completeness of hatred, I hate them, As enemies, have they become to me.
I hate them with perfect hatred. They have become my enemies.
23 Search me, O GOD, and observe my heart, Try me, and observe my cares;
Search me, God, and know my heart. Try me, and know my thoughts.
24 And see if there be any idol-way in me, and lead me in a way age-abiding.
See if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way.
