Psalms 139

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

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

2 You know my down-sitting and mine up-rising: you understand my thoughts long before.

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

3 You have traced my path and my bed, and have 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, you have known all things,

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

5 the last and the first: you have fashioned me, and laid your hand upon me.

You hem me in behind and before. You laid your hand on me.

6 The knowledge of you is too wonderful for me; it is very difficult, I can’t [attain] to it.

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

7 Whither shall I go from your 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, you are there: if I should go down to hell, you are present. (Sheol h7585)

If I ascend up into heaven, you are there. If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, 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 your hand would guide me, and your 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 you; but night will be light as day: as its darkness, so shall its light [be to you].

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

13 For you, O Lord, have possessed my reins; you have 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 you thanks; for you are fearfully wondrous; wondrous are your works; and my soul knows [it] well.

I will give thanks to you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful. My soul knows that very well.

15 My bones, which you made in secret were not hidden from you, 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 Your eyes saw my unwrought [substance], and all [men] shall be written in your book; they shall be formed by day, though [there should for a time] be no one amongst 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 your 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 their sum!

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

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 you would kill the wicked, O God; depart from me, you men of blood.

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

20 For you will say concerning [their] thought, [that] they shall take your 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 you? and wasted away because of your enemies?

LORD, don’t I 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.