< Psalms 139 >
1 To the Overseer. — A Psalm by David. Jehovah, Thou hast searched me, and knowest.
For the end, a Psalm of David. O Lord, you have proved me, and known me.
2 Thou — Thou hast known my sitting down, And my rising up, Thou hast attended to my thoughts from afar.
You know my down-sitting and mine up-rising: you understand my thoughts long before.
3 My path and my couch Thou hast fanned, And [with] all my ways hast been acquainted.
You have traced my path and my bed, and have foreseen all my ways.
4 For there is not a word in my tongue, Lo, O Jehovah, Thou hast known it all!
For there is no unrighteous word in my tongue: behold, O Lord, you have known all things,
5 Behind and before Thou hast besieged me, And Thou dost place on me Thy hand.
the last and the first: you have fashioned me, and laid your hand upon me.
6 Knowledge too wonderful for me, It hath been set on high, I am not able for it.
The knowledge of you is too wonderful for me; it is very difficult, I can’t [attain] to it.
7 Whither do I go from Thy Spirit? And whither from Thy face do I flee?
Whither shall I go from your Spirit? and whither shall I flee from my presence?
8 If I ascend the heavens — there Thou [art], And spread out a couch in Sheol, lo, Thee! (Sheol )
If I should go up to heaven, you are there: if I should go down to hell, you are present. (Sheol )
9 I take the wings of morning, I dwell in the uttermost part of the sea,
If I should spread my wings [to fly] straight forward, and sojourn at the extremity of the sea, [it would be vain],
10 Also there Thy hand doth lead me, And Thy right hand doth hold me.
for even there your hand would guide me, and your right hand would hold me.
11 And I say, 'Surely darkness bruiseth me, Then night [is] light to me.
When I said, Surely the darkness will cover me; even the night [was] light in my luxury.
12 Also darkness hideth not from Thee, And night as day shineth, as [is] darkness so [is] light.
For darkness will not be darkness with you; but night will be light as day: as its darkness, so shall its light [be to you].
13 For Thou — Thou hast possessed my reins, Thou dost cover me in my mother's belly.
For you, O Lord, have possessed my reins; you have helped me from 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 will give you thanks; for you are fearfully wondrous; wondrous are your works; and my soul knows [it] well.
15 My substance was not hid from Thee, When I was made in secret, Curiously wrought in the lower part of earth.
My bones, which you made in secret were not hidden from you, nor my substance, in the lowest parts 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.
Your eyes saw my unwrought [substance], and all [men] shall be written in your book; they shall be formed by day, though [there should for a time] be no one among them.
17 And to me how precious have been Thy thoughts, O God, how great hath been their sum!
But your friends, O God, have been greatly honored by me; their rule has been greatly strengthened.
18 I recount them! than the sand they are more, I have waked, and I am still with Thee.
I will number them, and they shall be multiplied beyond the sand; I awake, and am still with you.
19 Dost Thou slay, O God, the wicked? Then, men of blood, turn aside from me!
Oh that you would kill the wicked, O God; depart from me, you men of blood.
20 Who exchange Thee for wickedness, Lifted up to vanity [are] Thine enemies.
For you will say concerning [their] thought, [that] they shall take your cities in vain.
21 Do not I hate, Jehovah, those hating Thee? And with Thy withstanders grieve myself?
Have I not hated them, O Lord, that hate you? and wasted away because of your enemies?
22 [With] perfect hatred I have hated them, Enemies they have become to me.
I have hated them with perfect hatred; they were counted my enemies.
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart, Try me, and know my thoughts,
Prove me, O God, and know my heart; examine me, and know my paths;
24 And see if a grievous way be in me, And lead me in a way age-during!
and see if [there is any] way of iniquity in me, and lead me in an everlasting way.