Psalms 139

1 For the music director. A psalm of David. Lord, you have examined me from the inside out—you know everything about me!

For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. O LORD, You have searched me and known me.

2 You know when I sit down and when I get up. You know what I'm thinking even when I'm a long way away.

You know when I sit and when I rise; You understand my thoughts from afar.

3 You observe where I go and when I rest. You're familiar with everything I do.

You search out my path and my lying down; You are aware of all my ways.

4 Lord, you even know what I'm going to say before I say it.

Even before a word is on my tongue, You know all about it, O LORD.

5 You're always there—behind me, in front of me, and all around me. You place your caring hand on me.

You hem me in behind and before; You have laid Your hand upon me.

6 This amazing knowledge you have is far beyond me, way beyond my understanding!

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.

7 Where can I go that you're not already there? Where can I run to escape your presence?

Where can I go to escape Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence?

8 If I go up to heaven, you are there. If I lie down in Sheol, look—you are there too! (Sheol h7585)

If I ascend to the heavens, You are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, You are there. (Sheol h7585)

9 If I were to fly away on wings of the dawn to the east; if I were to live on the far western shore of the sea,

If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle by the farthest sea,

10 even there your hand would lead me, your right hand would support me.

even there Your hand will guide me; Your right hand will hold me fast.

11 If I asked the darkness to hide me, and light to become night around me,

If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me, and the light become night around me”—

12 Even darkness would not be dark for you, and the night would be bright as day, for darkness is like light to you.

even the darkness is not dark to You, but the night shines like the day, for darkness is as light to You.

13 You made me from the inside out, shaping me in my mother's womb.

For You formed my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb.

14 I praise you for making me in such an awesome and wonderful way. What you do is incredible—I realize this completely!

I praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Marvelous are Your works, and I know this very well.

15 My growing body was not hidden from you as I was formed in secret, as I was intricately put together “in the depths of the earth.”

My frame was not hidden from You when I was made in secret, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.

16 You saw me as an embryo, and in your book all my days were written down—the days that were made for me before any of them existed.

Your eyes saw my unformed body; all my days were written in Your book and ordained for me before one of them came to be.

17 God, your thoughts are so valuable to me! Taken together, they can't be counted!

How precious to me are Your thoughts, O God, how vast is their sum!

18 If I tried to count them, they would be more than every grain of sand. Yet when I awake I am still with you.

If I were to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand; and when I awake, I am still with You.

19 God, if you would only kill the wicked! Murderers, get away from me!

O God, that You would slay the wicked— away from me, you bloodthirsty men—

20 When they speak of you they're being deceptively evil. Since they are your enemies, they call on you in vain.

who speak of You deceitfully; Your enemies take Your name in vain.

21 Lord, don't I hate those who hate you? I despise those who rebel against you!

Do I not hate those who hate You, O LORD, and detest those who rise against You?

22 I hate them with absolute hatred—they have become my enemies!

I hate them with perfect hatred; I count them as my enemies.

23 Examine me carefully, God, so you can be sure of my true feelings. Check me out so you can know what I really think.

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my concerns.

24 Please show me if I'm following any kind of idol, and lead me along the path of eternal life.

See if there is any offensive way in me; lead me in the way everlasting.