Psalms 139
1 For the chief musician. A psalm of David. Yahweh, you have examined me, and you know me.
For the leader. Of David, a psalm. O Lord, you search and know me;
2 You know when I sit down and when I get up; you understand my thoughts from far away.
when I sit, when I rise you know it, you perceive my thoughts from afar.
3 You observe my path and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.
When I walk, when I lie you sift it, familiar with all my ways.
4 For before there is a word on my tongue, you know it completely, Yahweh.
There is not a word on my tongue, but see! Lord, you know it all.
5 Behind me and before me you surround me and place your hand upon me.
Behind and before you beset me, upon me you lay your hand.
6 Such knowledge is too much for me; it is too high, and I cannot reach it.
It’s too wonderful for me to know too lofty I cannot attain it.
7 Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?
Whither shall I go from your spirit? Or whither shall I flee from your face?
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 climb up to heaven, you are there: or make Sheol my bed, you are 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 lift up the wings of the morning and fly to the end of the sea,
10 even there your hand will lead me, your right hand will hold on to me.
there also your hand would grasp me, and your right hand take hold of me.
11 If I said, “Surely the darkness will cover me, and the light will become night around me,”
If I say, “Let the darkness cover me, and night be the 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.
The dark is not dark for you, but night is as light as the day.
13 You formed my inner parts; you formed 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 you, for I am wonderfully made. My soul knows this very 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 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 you, when I was made in secret, and woven in the depths 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.
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 are your thoughts to me, God! How vast is their sum!
But how far, O God, beyond measure are your thoughts! How mighty their sum!
18 If I tried to count them, they would be more in number than the sand. When I awake, I am still with you.
Should I count, they are more than the sand. When I wake, I am still with you.
19 If only you would kill the wicked, God; get away from me, you violent men.
Will you slay the wicked, O God? And remove from me the bloodthirsty,
20 They rebel against you and act deceitfully; your enemies tell lies.
who maliciously defy you and take your name in vain.
21 Do I not hate those, Yahweh, who hate you? Do I not despise those who rise up against you?
Do I not hate those who hate you, Lord? Do I not loathe those who resist you?
22 I hate them completely; they have become my enemies.
With perfect hatred I hate them, I count them my enemies.
23 Examine me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts.
Search me, O God, know my heart: test 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 guile be in me; and lead me in the way everlasting.
