Psalms 139

1 To the chief music-maker. A Psalm. Of David. O Lord, you have knowledge of me, searching out all my secrets.

To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known [me].

2 You have knowledge when I am seated and when I get up, you see my thoughts from far away.

Thou knowest my down-sitting and my up rising, thou understandest my thought afar off.

3 You keep watch over my steps and my sleep, and have knowledge of all my ways.

Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted [with] all my ways.

4 For there is not a word on my tongue which is not clear to you, O Lord.

For [there is] not a word on my tongue, [but] lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.

5 I am shut in by you on every side, and you have put your hand on me.

Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thy hand upon me.

6 Such knowledge is a wonder greater than my powers; it is so high that I may not come near it.

[Such] knowledge [is] too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot [attain] to it.

7 Where may I go from your spirit? how may I go in flight from you?

Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?

8 If I go up to heaven, you are there: or if I make my bed in the underworld, you are there. (Sheol h7585)

If I ascend into heaven, thou [art] there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou [art there]. (Sheol h7585)

9 If I take the wings of the morning, and go to the farthest parts of the sea;

[If] I take the wings of the morning, [and] dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;

10 Even there will I be guided by your hand, and your right hand will keep me.

Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.

11 If I say, Only let me be covered by the dark, and the light about me be night;

If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.

12 Even the dark is not dark to you; the night is as bright as the day: for dark and light are the same to you.

Yes, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light [are] both alike [to thee].

13 My flesh was made by you, and my parts joined together in my mother's body.

For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb.

14 I will give you praise, for I am strangely and delicately formed; your works are great wonders, and of this my soul is fully conscious.

I will praise thee: for I am fearfully [and] wonderfully made: wonderful [are] thy works; and [that] my soul well knoweth.

15 My frame was not unseen by you when I was made secretly, and strangely formed in the lowest parts of the earth.

My substance was not hid from thee when I was made in secret, [and] curiously formed in the lowest parts of the earth.

16 Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book all my days were recorded, even those which were purposed before they had come into being.

Thy eyes saw my substance, yet being imperfect; and in thy book all [my members] were written, [which] in continuance were fashioned, when [as yet there was] none of them.

17 How dear are your thoughts to me, O God! how great is the number of them!

How precious also are thy thoughts to me, O God! how great is the sum of them!

18 If I made up their number, it would be more than the grains of sand; when I am awake, I am still with you.

[If] I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.

19 If only you would put the sinners to death, O God; go far from me, you men of blood.

Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: depart from me therefore, ye bloody men.

20 For they go against you with evil designs, and your haters make sport of your name.

For they speak against thee wickedly, [and] thy enemies take [thy name] in vain.

21 Are not your haters hated by me, O Lord? are not those who are lifted up against you a cause of grief to me?

Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?

22 My hate for them is complete; my thoughts of them are as if they were making war on me.

I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them my enemies.

23 O God, let the secrets of my heart be uncovered, and let my wandering thoughts be tested:

Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my thoughts:

24 See if there is any way of sorrow in me, and be my guide in the eternal way.

And see if [there is any] wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.