Psalms 139
1 For the chief musician. A psalm of David. Yahweh, you have examined me, and you know me.
For the Leader. A Psalm of David. O LORD, 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 downsitting 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 measurest my going about 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 a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, Thou knowest it altogether.
5 Behind me and before me you surround me and place your hand upon me.
Thou hast hemmed me in 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.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; too 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? or whither shall I 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 heaven, Thou art there; if I make my bed in the nether-world, 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 morning, 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 would Thy hand lead me, and Thy right hand would 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 the darkness shall envelop me, and the light about me shall 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 the darkness is not too dark for Thee, but the night shineth as the day; the darkness is even as the light.
13 You formed my inner parts; you formed me in my mother's womb.
For Thou hast made my reins; Thou hast knit me together in my mother's womb.
14 I will praise you, for I am wonderfully made. My soul knows this very well.
I will give thanks unto Thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; wonderful 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 frame was not hidden from Thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest 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 mine unformed substance, and in Thy book they were all written — even the days that were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.
17 How precious are your thoughts to me, God! How vast is their sum!
How weighty also 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; were I to come to the end of them, I would still be with Thee.
19 If only you would kill the wicked, God; get away from me, you violent men.
If Thou but wouldest slay the wicked, O God — depart from me therefore, ye men of blood;
20 They rebel against you and act deceitfully; your enemies tell lies.
Who utter Thy name with wicked thought, they take it for falsehood, even 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 LORD, that hate Thee? And do not I strive with those that rise up against Thee?
22 I hate them completely; they have become my enemies.
I hate them with utmost hatred; I count 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, try 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 way in me that is grievous, and lead me in the way everlasting.
