Psalms 139

1 For the end, a Psalm of David. O Lord, thou hast proved me, and known me.

To the Overseer. — A Psalm by David. Jehovah, Thou hast searched me, and knowest.

2 Thou knowest my down-sitting and mine up-rising: thou understandest my thoughts long before.

Thou — Thou hast known my sitting down, And my rising up, Thou hast attended to my thoughts from afar.

3 Thou hast traced my path and my bed, and hast foreseen all my ways.

My path and my couch Thou hast fanned, And [with] all my ways hast been acquainted.

4 For there is no unrighteous word in my tongue: behold, O Lord, thou hast known all things,

For there is not a word in my tongue, Lo, O Jehovah, Thou hast known it all!

5 the last and the first: thou hast fashioned me, and laid thine hand upon me.

Behind and before Thou hast besieged me, And Thou dost place on me Thy hand.

6 The knowledge of thee is too wonderful for me; it is very difficult, I cannot [attain] to it.

Knowledge too wonderful for me, It hath been set on high, I am not able for it.

7 Whither shall I go from thy Spirit? and whither shall I flee from my presence?

Whither do I go from Thy Spirit? And whither from Thy face do I flee?

8 If I should go up to heaven, thou art there: if I should go down to hell, thou art present. (Sheol h7585)

If I ascend the heavens — there Thou [art], And spread out a couch in Sheol, lo, Thee! (Sheol h7585)

9 If I should spread my wings [to fly] straight forward, and sojourn at the extremity of the sea, [it would be vain],

I take the wings of morning, I dwell in the uttermost part of the sea,

10 for even there thy hand would guide me, and thy right hand would hold me.

Also there Thy hand doth lead me, And Thy right hand doth hold me.

11 When I said, Surely the darkness will cover me; even the night [was] light in my luxury.

And I say, 'Surely darkness bruiseth me, Then night [is] light to me.

12 For darkness will not be darkness with thee; but night will be light as day: as its darkness, so shall its light [be to thee].

Also darkness hideth not from Thee, And night as day shineth, as [is] darkness so [is] light.

13 For thou, O Lord, hast possessed my reins; thou hast helped me from my mother's womb.

For Thou — Thou hast possessed my reins, Thou dost cover me in my mother's belly.

14 I will give thee thanks; for thou art fearfully wondrous; wondrous are thy works; and my soul knows [it] well.

I confess Thee, because that [with] wonders I have been distinguished. Wonderful [are] Thy works, And my soul is knowing [it] well.

15 My bones, which thou madest in secret were not hidden from thee, nor my substance, in the lowest parts of the earth.

My substance was not hid from Thee, When I was made in secret, Curiously wrought in the lower part of earth.

16 Thine eyes saw my unwrought [substance], and all [men] shall be written in thy book; they shall be formed by day, though [there should for a time] be no one among them.

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.

17 But thy friends, O God, have been greatly honoured by me; their rule has been greatly strengthened.

And to me how precious have been Thy thoughts, O God, how great hath been their sum!

18 I will number them, and they shall be multiplied beyond the sand; I awake, and am still with thee.

I recount them! than the sand they are more, I have waked, and I am still with Thee.

19 Oh that thou wouldest slay the wicked, O God; depart from me, ye men of blood.

Dost Thou slay, O God, the wicked? Then, men of blood, turn aside from me!

20 For thou wilt say concerning [their] thought, [that] they shall take thy cities in vain.

Who exchange Thee for wickedness, Lifted up to vanity [are] Thine enemies.

21 Have I not hated them, O Lord, that hate thee? and wasted away because of thine enemies?

Do not I hate, Jehovah, those hating Thee? And with Thy withstanders grieve myself?

22 I have hated them with perfect hatred; they were counted my enemies.

[With] perfect hatred I have hated them, Enemies they have become to me.

23 Prove me, O God, and know my heart; examine me, and know my paths;

Search me, O God, and know my heart, Try me, and know my thoughts,

24 and see if [there is any] way of iniquity in me, and lead me in an everlasting way.

And see if a grievous way be in me, And lead me in a way age-during!