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!
“To the chief musician, by David, a psalm.” O Lord! thou hast searched me through, and thou knowest [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.
Thou indeed knowest my sitting down and my rising up, thou understandest my thinking while yet afar off.
3 You observe where I go and when I rest. You're familiar with everything I do.
My walking and my lying down hast thou limited, and with all my ways art thou acquainted.
4 Lord, you even know what I'm going to say before I say it.
For, while there is not a word on my tongue, lo, thou, O Lord, knowest it entirely.
5 You're always there—behind me, in front of me, and all around me. You place your caring hand on me.
Behind and before hast thou hedged me in, and thou placest upon me thy hand.
6 This amazing knowledge you have is far beyond me, way beyond my understanding!
Too wonderful is such knowledge for me: it is too exalted, I cannot attain unto it.
7 Where can I go that you're not already there? Where can I run to escape your presence?
Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee away from thy 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 should ascend into heaven, thou art there; and if I should make my bed in the nether world, behold, thou art 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 should lift up the wings of the morning-dawn, if I should dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea:
10 even there your hand would lead me, your right hand would support me.
Even there would thy hand lead me, and thy right hand would seize hold of me.
11 If I asked the darkness to hide me, and light to become night around me,
If I said, Surely darkness shall enshroud me, and into night [be turned] the 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.
Yet even darkness can obscure nothing from thee; but the night will shine like the day; both the darkness and the light are alike [to thee].
13 You made me from the inside out, shaping me in my mother's womb.
For thou possessest my reins: thou hast 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 thank thee therefore, that I am [so] fearfully [and] wonderfully made: wonderful are thy works; and that my soul knoweth 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 being was not concealed from thee, when I was made in secret, when I was [so to say] embroidered in the lowest 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.
My undeveloped substance did thy eyes see; and in thy book were all of them written down—the days which have been formed, while yet not one of them was here.
17 God, your thoughts are so valuable to me! Taken together, they can't be counted!
And how precious are unto me thy thoughts, O God! how mightily great 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.
Should I count them, they would be more numerous than the sand: I awake, and I am still with thee.
19 God, if you would only kill the wicked! Murderers, get away from me!
If thou wouldst but slay the wicked, O God! and ye men of blood, depart from me.
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 thee for a wicked end, thy enemies, that bear [thy name] for a vain purpose.
21 Lord, don't I hate those who hate you? I despise those who rebel against you!
Behold, those that hate thee I ever hate, O Lord; and for those that rise up against thee do I feel loathing.
22 I hate them with absolute hatred—they have become my enemies!
With the utmost hatred do I hate them: enemies are they become unto me.
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 through, O God, and know my heart; probe 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 a way of perverseness in me, and lead me on the way of eternity.
