Psalms 139
1 For the chief musician. A psalm of David. Yahweh, you have examined me, and you know me.
To the Chief Musician, David’s. A Melody. O Yahweh! thou hast searched me, and observed:
2 You know when I sit down and when I get up; you understand my thoughts from far away.
Thou, hast observed my downsitting and mine uprising, Thou hast given heed to my desire, from afar:
3 You observe my path and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.
My path and my couch, hast thou examined, and, all my ways, thou well knowest.
4 For before there is a word on my tongue, you know it completely, Yahweh.
Surely there hath not been a word on my tongue, [but] behold! O Yahweh, thou hast observed it on every side.
5 Behind me and before me you surround me and place your hand upon me.
Behind and before, hast thou shut me in, and hast laid upon me thy hand: —
6 Such knowledge is too much for me; it is too high, and I cannot reach it.
Knowledge, too wonderful, for me! high, I cannot attain to it!
7 Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?
Whither can I go from thy spirit? or whither, from thy face, can I flee?
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 the heavens, there, thou art! If I spread out hades as my couch, behold thee! (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 mount the wings of the dawn, settle down in the region beyond the sea,
10 even there your hand will lead me, your right hand will hold on to me.
Even there, thy hand shall lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.
11 If I said, “Surely the darkness will cover me, and the light will become night around me,”
If I say, Surely, darkness, shall cover me! then, night, is 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.
Even darkness, will not conceal from thee, —but, night, like day, will shine, So is the darkness, as the light!
13 You formed my inner parts; you formed me in my mother's womb.
For, thou, didst possess thyself of my reins, thou didst weave me together in the womb of my mother.
14 I will praise you, for I am wonderfully made. My soul knows this very well.
I thank thee, in that fearfully was my being distinguished, Wonderful are thy works, and, mine own soul, is observing [them] intently!
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 substance was not hid from thee, —when I was made in secret, when I was skilfully figured in the lower parts 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.
Mine unfinished substance, thine eyes beheld, and, in thy book, all the parts thereof were written, —the days they should be fashioned! while yet there was not one among them.
17 How precious are your thoughts to me, God! How vast is their sum!
To me, then, how precious have thy desires become, O GOD! How numerous, the heads of them!
18 If I tried to count them, they would be more in number than the sand. When I awake, I am still with you.
I would recount them! Beyond the sands, they multiply, I rouse myself—and am still with thee.
19 If only you would kill the wicked, God; get away from me, you violent men.
Wilt thou not, O GOD, slay the lawless one? Therefore, ye men of bloodshed, depart from me!
20 They rebel against you and act deceitfully; your enemies tell lies.
For they speak of thee wickedly, Thy foes lift up [their hand] unto falsehood.
21 Do I not hate those, Yahweh, who hate you? Do I not despise those who rise up against you?
Do I not hate, them who hate thee, O Yahweh? And loathe, them who rise up against thee?
22 I hate them completely; they have become my enemies.
With completeness of hatred, I hate them, As enemies, have they become to me.
23 Examine me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts.
Search me, O GOD, and observe my heart, Try me, and observe my cares;
24 See if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way.
And see if there be any idol-way in me, and lead me in a way age-abiding.
