Psalms 139
1 For the chief musician. A psalm of David. Yahweh, you have examined me, and you know me.
“For the leader of the music. 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 sitting-down and my rising-up; Thou understandest my thoughts from afar!
3 You observe my path and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.
Thou seest 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 before the word is upon my tongue, Behold, O LORD! thou knowest it altogether!
5 Behind me and before me you surround me and place your hand upon me.
Thou besettest me behind and before, And layest thine 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; It is high, I cannot attain to 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 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 into heaven, thou art there! If I make my bed in the underworld, 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 remotest 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,”
If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me;” Even the night shall be light about me.
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.
Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee, But the night shineth as the day; The darkness and the light are both alike to thee!
13 You formed my inner parts; you formed me in my mother's womb.
For thou didst form my reins; Thou didst weave 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 and wonderfully made; Marvellous are thy works, And this my soul knoweth full 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. When I was 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 substance, while yet unformed, And in thy book was every thing written; My days were appointed before one of them existed.
17 How precious are your thoughts to me, God! How vast is their sum!
How precious to me are thy thoughts, 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 should count them, they would outnumber 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.
O that thou wouldst slay the wicked, O God! Ye men of blood, depart from me!
20 They rebel against you and act deceitfully; your enemies tell lies.
For they speak against thee wickedly; Thine enemies utter thy name for falsehood.
21 Do I not hate those, Yahweh, who hate you? Do I not despise those who rise up against you?
Do I not hate them that hate thee, O LORD? Do I not abhor them that rise up against thee?
22 I hate them completely; they have become my enemies.
Yea, I hate them with perfect 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 the way of trouble be within me, And lead me in the way everlasting!
