Psalmorum 139
1 In finem, Psalmus David. Domine probasti me, et cognovisti me:
For the leader. Of David, a psalm. O Lord, you search and know me;
2 tu cognovisti sessionem meam, et resurrectionem meam.
when I sit, when I rise you know it, you perceive my thoughts from afar.
3 Intellexisti cogitationes meas de longe: semitam meam, et funiculum meum investigasti.
When I walk, when I lie you sift it, familiar with all my ways.
4 Et omnes vias meas prævidisti: quia non est sermo in lingua mea.
There is not a word on my tongue, but see! Lord, you know it all.
5 Ecce Domine tu cognovisti omnia novissima, et antiqua: tu formasti me, et posuisti super me manum tuam.
Behind and before you beset me, upon me you lay your hand.
6 Mirabilis facta est scientia tua ex me: confortata est, et non potero ad eam.
It’s too wonderful for me to know too lofty I cannot attain it.
7 Quo ibo a Spiritu tuo? et quo a facie tua fugiam?
Whither shall I go from your spirit? Or whither shall I flee from your face?
If I climb up to heaven, you are there: or make Sheol my bed, you are there. (Sheol h7585)
9 Si sumpsero pennas meas diluculo, et habitavero in extremis maris:
If I lift up the wings of the morning and fly to the end of the sea,
10 Etenim illuc manus tua deducet me: et tenebit me dextera tua.
there also your hand would grasp me, and your right hand take hold of me.
11 Et dixi: Forsitan tenebræ conculcabunt me: et nox illuminatio mea in deliciis meis.
If I say, ‘Let the darkness cover me, and night be the light about me,’
12 Quia tenebræ non obscurabuntur a te, et nox sicut dies illuminabitur: sicut tenebræ eius, ita et lumen eius.
The dark is not dark for you, but night is as light as the day.
13 Quia tu possedisti renes meos: suscepisti me de utero matris meæ.
For you did put me together; in my mother’s womb you did weave me.
14 Confitebor tibi quia terribiliter magnificatus es: mirabilia opera tua, et anima mea cognoscit nimis.
I give you praise for my fashioning so full of awe, so wonderful. Your works are wonderful. You knew me right well;
15 Non est occultatum os meum a te, quod fecisti in occulto: et substantia mea in inferioribus terræ.
my bones were not hidden from you, when I was made in secret, and woven in the depths of the earth.
16 Imperfectum meum viderunt oculi tui, et in libro tuo omnes scribentur: dies formabuntur, et nemo in eis.
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 Mihi autem nimis honorificati sunt amici tui, Deus: nimis confortatus est principatus eorum.
But how far, O God, beyond measure are your thoughts! How mighty their sum!
18 Dinumerabo eos, et super arenam multiplicabuntur: exurrexi, et adhuc sum tecum.
Should I count, they are more than the sand. When I wake, I am still with you.
19 Si occideris Deus peccatores: viri sanguinum declinate a me:
Will you slay the wicked, O God? And remove from me the bloodthirsty,
20 Quia dicitis in cogitatione: accipient in vanitate civitates tuas.
who maliciously defy you and take your name in vain.
21 Nonne qui oderunt te Domine, oderam: et super inimicos tuos tabescebam?
Do I not hate those who hate you, Lord? Do I not loathe those who resist you?
22 Perfecto odio oderam illos: et inimici facti sunt mihi.
With perfect hatred I hate them, I count them my enemies.
23 Proba me Deus, et scito cor meum: interroga me, et cognosce semitas meas.
Search me, O God, know my heart: test me, and know my thoughts,
24 Et vide, si via iniquitatis in me est: et deduc me in via æterna.
and see if guile be in me; and lead me in the way everlasting.
