Psalms 139
1 For the chief musician. A psalm of David. Yahweh, you have examined me, and you know me.
For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David. Yahweh, you have searched me, and you know me.
2 You know when I sit down and when I get up; you understand my thoughts from far away.
You know my sitting down and my rising up. You perceive my thoughts from afar.
3 You observe my path and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.
You search out my path and my lying down, and are 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 on my tongue, but behold, Yahweh, you know it altogether.
5 Behind me and before me you surround me and place your hand upon me.
You hem me in behind and before. You laid your hand on me.
6 Such knowledge is too much for me; it is too high, and I cannot reach it.
This knowledge is beyond me. It’s lofty. I can’t attain it.
7 Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?
Where could I go from your Spirit? Or where could I flee from your 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, you are there. If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, 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 take the wings of the dawn, and settle 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 your hand will lead me, and your right hand will 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 will overwhelm me. The light around me will 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 doesn’t hide from you, but the night shines as the day. The darkness is like light to you.
13 You formed my inner parts; you formed me in my mother's womb.
For you formed my inmost being. You 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 to you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful. My soul knows that very 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 wasn’t hidden from you, when I was made in secret, woven together 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 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 How precious are your thoughts to me, God! How vast is their sum!
How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is 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.
If I would count them, they are more in number than the sand. When I wake up, I am still with you.
19 If only you would kill the wicked, God; get away from me, you violent men.
If only you, God, would kill the wicked. Get away from me, you bloodthirsty men!
20 They rebel against you and act deceitfully; your enemies tell lies.
For they speak against you wickedly. Your enemies 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?
Yahweh, don’t I hate those who hate you? Am I not grieved with those who rise up against you?
22 I hate them completely; they have become my enemies.
I hate them with perfect hatred. They have become my enemies.
23 Examine me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts.
Search me, 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.
See if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way.
