Psalms 139
1 To the Overseer. — A Psalm by David. Jehovah, Thou hast searched me, and knowest.
For the music director. A psalm of David. Lord, you have examined me from the inside out—you know everything about me!
2 Thou — Thou hast known my sitting down, And my rising up, Thou hast attended to my thoughts from afar.
You know when I sit down and when I get up. You know what I'm thinking even when I'm a long way away.
3 My path and my couch Thou hast fanned, And [with] all my ways hast been acquainted.
You observe where I go and when I rest. You're familiar with everything I do.
4 For there is not a word in my tongue, Lo, O Jehovah, Thou hast known it all!
Lord, you even know what I'm going to say before I say it.
5 Behind and before Thou hast besieged me, And Thou dost place on me Thy hand.
You're always there—behind me, in front of me, and all around me. You place your caring hand on me.
6 Knowledge too wonderful for me, It hath been set on high, I am not able for it.
This amazing knowledge you have is far beyond me, way beyond my understanding!
7 Whither do I go from Thy Spirit? And whither from Thy face do I flee?
Where can I go that you're not already there? Where can I run to escape your presence?
8 If I ascend the heavens — there Thou [art], And spread out a couch in Sheol, lo, Thee! (Sheol h7585)
If I go up to heaven, you are there. If I lie down in Sheol, look—you are there too! (Sheol h7585)
9 I take the wings of morning, I dwell in the uttermost part of the sea,
If I were to fly away on wings of the dawn to the east; if I were to live on the far western shore of the sea,
10 Also there Thy hand doth lead me, And Thy right hand doth hold me.
even there your hand would lead me, your right hand would support me.
11 And I say, 'Surely darkness bruiseth me, Then night [is] light to me.
If I asked the darkness to hide me, and light to become night around me,
12 Also darkness hideth not from Thee, And night as day shineth, as [is] darkness so [is] light.
Even darkness would not be dark for you, and the night would be bright as day, for darkness is like light to you.
13 For Thou — Thou hast possessed my reins, Thou dost cover me in my mother's belly.
You made me from the inside out, shaping me in my mother's womb.
14 I confess Thee, because that [with] wonders I have been distinguished. Wonderful [are] Thy works, And my soul is knowing [it] well.
I praise you for making me in such an awesome and wonderful way. What you do is incredible—I realize this completely!
15 My substance was not hid from Thee, When I was made in secret, Curiously wrought in the lower part of earth.
My growing body was not hidden from you as I was formed in secret, as I was intricately put together “in the depths of the earth.”
16 Mine unformed substance Thine eyes saw, And on Thy book all of them are written, The days they were formed — And not one among them.
You saw me as an embryo, and in your book all my days were written down—the days that were made for me before any of them existed.
17 And to me how precious have been Thy thoughts, O God, how great hath been their sum!
God, your thoughts are so valuable to me! Taken together, they can't be counted!
18 I recount them! than the sand they are more, I have waked, and I am still with Thee.
If I tried to count them, they would be more than every grain of sand. Yet when I awake I am still with you.
19 Dost Thou slay, O God, the wicked? Then, men of blood, turn aside from me!
God, if you would only kill the wicked! Murderers, get away from me!
20 Who exchange Thee for wickedness, Lifted up to vanity [are] Thine enemies.
When they speak of you they're being deceptively evil. Since they are your enemies, they call on you in vain.
21 Do not I hate, Jehovah, those hating Thee? And with Thy withstanders grieve myself?
Lord, don't I hate those who hate you? I despise those who rebel against you!
22 [With] perfect hatred I have hated them, Enemies they have become to me.
I hate them with absolute hatred—they have become my enemies!
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart, Try me, and know my thoughts,
Examine me carefully, God, so you can be sure of my true feelings. Check me out so you can know what I really think.
24 And see if a grievous way be in me, And lead me in a way age-during!
Please show me if I'm following any kind of idol, and lead me along the path of eternal life.
