Psalms 139
1 For the chief musician. A psalm of David. Yahweh, you have examined me, and you know me.
To the chief Musician. A Psalm of David. Jehovah, thou hast searched me, and known [me].
2 You know when I sit down and when I get up; you understand my thoughts from far away.
Thou knowest my down-sitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off;
3 You observe my path and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.
Thou searchest out my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways;
4 For before there is a word on my tongue, you know it completely, Yahweh.
For there is not yet a word on my tongue, [but] lo, O Jehovah, thou knowest it altogether.
5 Behind me and before me you surround me and place your hand upon me.
Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thy hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too much for me; it is too high, and I cannot reach it.
O knowledge too wonderful for me! it is high, I cannot [attain] unto it.
7 Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?
Whither shall I go from thy Spirit? and whither flee from thy presence?
8 If I ascend up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, behold, you are there. (Sheol h7585)
If I ascend up into the heavens thou art there; or if I make my bed in Sheol, behold, thou [art there]; (Sheol h7585)
9 If I fly away on the wings of the morning and go to live in the uttermost parts across the sea,
[If] I take the wings of the dawn [and] dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
10 even there your hand will lead me, your right hand will hold on to me.
Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.
11 If I said, “Surely the darkness will cover me, and the light will become night around me,”
And if I say, Surely darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night;
12 even the darkness would not be dark to you. The night would shine like the day, for the darkness and the light are both alike to you.
Even darkness hideth not from thee, and the night shineth as the day: the darkness is as the light.
13 You formed my inner parts; you formed me in my mother's womb.
For thou hast possessed my reins; thou didst cover me in my mother's womb.
14 I will praise you, for I am wonderfully made. My soul knows this very well.
I will praise thee, for I am fearfully, wonderfully made. Marvellous are thy works; and [that] my soul knoweth right well.
15 My bones were not hidden from you when I was made in private, when I was intricately made in the depths of the earth.
My bones were not hidden from thee when I was made in secret, curiously wrought in the lower parts of the earth.
16 You saw me inside the womb; all the days assigned to me were recorded in your book even before the first one happened.
Thine eyes did see my unformed substance, and in thy book all [my members] were written; [during many] days were they fashioned, when [as yet] there was none of them.
17 How precious are your thoughts to me, God! How vast is their sum!
But how precious are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!
18 If I tried to count them, they would be 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 awake, I am still with thee.
19 If only you would kill the wicked, God; get away from me, you violent men.
Oh that thou wouldest slay the wicked, O God! And ye men of blood, depart from me.
20 They rebel against you and act deceitfully; your enemies tell lies.
For they speak of thee wickedly, they take [thy name] in vain, thine enemies.
21 Do I not hate those, Yahweh, who hate you? Do I not despise those who rise up against you?
Do not I hate them, O Jehovah, that hate thee? and do not I loathe them that rise up against thee?
22 I hate them completely; they have become my enemies.
I hate them with perfect hatred; I account them mine enemies.
23 Examine me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts.
Search me, O God, and know my heart; prove me, and know my thoughts;
24 See if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way.
And see if there be any grievous way in me; and lead me in the way everlasting.
