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!
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 my sitting down and mine rising up, you understand my thought far off.
3 You observe where I go and when I rest. You're familiar with everything I do.
You compass my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways.
4 Lord, you even know what I'm going to say before I say it.
For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, you know it altogether.
5 You're always there—behind me, in front of me, and all around me. You place your caring hand on me.
You have beset me behind and before, and 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; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.
7 Where can I go that you're not already there? Where can I run to escape your presence?
Where shall I go from your spirit? or where shall 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 up into heaven, you are there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, 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 take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;
10 even there your hand would lead me, your right hand would support me.
Even there shall your hand lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.
11 If I asked the darkness to hide me, and light to become night around me,
If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about 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.
Yea, the darkness hides not from you; but the night shines as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to you.
13 You made me from the inside out, shaping me in my mother's womb.
For you have possessed my reins: you have covered me 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 will praise you; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are your works; and that my soul knows right 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 substance was not hid from you, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the low parts 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 did see my substance, yet being imperfect; and in your book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.
17 God, your thoughts are so valuable to me! Taken together, they can't be counted!
How precious also are your thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!
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 should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with you.
19 God, if you would only kill the wicked! Murderers, get away from me!
Surely you will slay the wicked, O God: depart from me therefore, all of you bloody men.
20 When they speak of you they're being deceptively evil. Since they are your enemies, they call on you in vain.
For they speak against you wickedly, and 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 not I hate them, O LORD, that hate you? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against you?
22 I hate them with absolute hatred—they have become my enemies!
I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine 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: try me, and know my thoughts:
24 Please show me if I'm following any kind of idol, and lead me along the path of eternal life.
And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
