Psalms 139
1 For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David. Yahweh, you have searched me, and you know me.
For the leader. Of David, a psalm. O Lord, you search and know me;
2 You know my sitting down and my rising up. You perceive my thoughts from afar.
when I sit, when I rise you know it, you perceive my thoughts from afar.
3 You search out my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways.
When I walk, when I lie you sift it, familiar with all my ways.
4 For there is not a word on my tongue, but behold, Yahweh, you know it altogether.
There is not a word on my tongue, but see! Lord, you know it all.
5 You hem me in behind and before. You laid your hand on me.
Behind and before you beset me, upon me you lay your hand.
6 This knowledge is beyond me. It’s lofty. I can’t attain it.
It’s too wonderful for me to know too lofty I cannot attain it.
7 Where could I go from your Spirit? Or where could I flee from your presence?
Whither shall I go from your spirit? Or whither shall I flee from your face?
8 If I ascend up into heaven, you are there. If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, you are there! (Sheol h7585)
If I climb up to heaven, you are there: or make Sheol my bed, you are there. (Sheol h7585)
9 If I take the wings of the dawn, and settle in the uttermost parts of the sea,
If I lift up the wings of the morning and fly to the end of the sea,
10 even there your hand will lead me, and your right hand will hold me.
there also your hand would grasp me, and your right hand take hold of me.
11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will overwhelm me. The light around me will be night,”
If I say, ‘Let the darkness cover me, and night be the light about me,’
12 even the darkness doesn’t hide from you, but the night shines as the day. The darkness is like light to you.
The dark is not dark for you, but night is as light as the day.
13 For you formed my inmost being. You knit me together in my mother’s womb.
For you did put me together; in my mother’s womb you did weave me.
14 I will give thanks to you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful. My soul knows that very well.
I give you praise for my fashioning so full of awe, so wonderful. Your works are wonderful. You knew me right well;
15 My frame wasn’t hidden from you, when I was made in secret, woven together in the depths of the earth.
my bones were not hidden from you, when I was made in secret, and woven in the depths of the earth.
16 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.
Your eyes saw all my days: they stood on your book every one written down, before they were fashioned, while none of them yet was mine.
17 How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is their sum!
But how far, O God, beyond measure are your thoughts! How mighty their sum!
18 If I would count them, they are more in number than the sand. When I wake up, I am still with you.
Should I count, they are more than the sand. When I wake, I am still with you.
19 If only you, God, would kill the wicked. Get away from me, you bloodthirsty men!
Will you slay the wicked, O God? And remove from me the bloodthirsty,
20 For they speak against you wickedly. Your enemies take your name in vain.
who maliciously defy you and take your name in vain.
21 Yahweh, don’t I hate those who hate you? Am I not grieved with those who rise up against you?
Do I not hate those who hate you, Lord? Do I not loathe those who resist you?
22 I hate them with perfect hatred. They have become my enemies.
With perfect hatred I hate them, I count them my enemies.
23 Search me, God, and know my heart. Try me, and know my thoughts.
Search me, O God, know my heart: test me, and know my thoughts,
24 See if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way.
and see if guile be in me; and lead me in the way everlasting.
