Psalms 139

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

[For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David.] YHWH, you have searched me, and you know me.

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

You know my sitting down and my rising up. You perceive my thoughts from afar.

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

You search out my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways.

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

For there is not a word on my tongue, but, look, YHWH, you know it altogether.

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

You encircle me behind and in front, and you place your hand upon me.

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

This knowledge is beyond me. It's lofty. I can't attain it.

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

Where could I go from your Spirit? Or where could I flee from your presence?

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 up into heaven, you are there. If I make my bed in Sheol, look, you are there. (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],

If I take the wings of the dawn, and settle in the uttermost parts of the sea;

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

Even there your hand will lead me, and your right hand will hold me.

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

If I say, "Surely the darkness will overwhelm me; the light around me will be night;"

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].

even the darkness doesn't hide from you, but the night shines as the day. The darkness is like light to you.

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

For you formed my inmost being. You knit me together in my mother's womb.

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

I will give thanks to you, for I am awesomely and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful, and my soul knows that very 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 frame wasn't hidden from you, when I was made in secret, woven together in the depths of the 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.

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.

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

How precious to me are your thoughts, God. How vast is the sum of them.

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

If I would count them, they are more in number than the sand. When I wake up, I am still with you.

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

If only you, God, would kill the wicked. Get away from me, you bloodthirsty men.

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

For they speak against you wickedly. Your enemies take your name in vain.

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

YHWH, do I not hate those who hate you? Am I not grieved with those who rise up against you?

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

I hate them with perfect hatred. They have become my enemies.

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

Search me, 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.

See if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way.