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 leader of the music. A psalm of David.” O LORD! thou hast 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.
Thou knowest my sitting-down and my rising-up; Thou understandest my thoughts from afar!
3 You observe where I go and when I rest. You're familiar with everything I do.
Thou seest my path and my lying-down, And art acquainted with all my ways!
4 Lord, you even know what I'm going to say before I say it.
For before the word is upon my tongue, Behold, O LORD! thou knowest it altogether!
5 You're always there—behind me, in front of me, and all around me. You place your caring hand on me.
Thou besettest me behind and before, And layest thine 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 to 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, And whither shall I flee 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 ascend into heaven, thou art there! If I make my bed in the underworld, 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 take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the remotest parts of the sea,
10 even there your hand would lead me, your right hand would support me.
Even there shall thy hand lead me, And thy 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 hideth not from thee, But the night shineth as the day; The darkness and the light are both alike to thee!
13 You made me from the inside out, shaping me in my mother's womb.
For thou didst form my reins; Thou didst weave 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 thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvellous are thy works, And this my soul knoweth full 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 thee, When I was made in secret. When I was curiously wrought in the lower 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.
Thine eyes did see my substance, while yet unformed, And in thy book was every thing written; My days were appointed before one of them existed.
17 God, your thoughts are so valuable to me! Taken together, they can't be counted!
How precious to me are thy thoughts, 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 would outnumber the sand: When I awake, I am still with thee!
19 God, if you would only kill the wicked! Murderers, get away from me!
O that thou wouldst slay the wicked, O God! 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.
For they speak against thee wickedly; Thine enemies utter thy name for falsehood.
21 Lord, don't I hate those who hate you? I despise those who rebel against you!
Do I not hate them that hate thee, O LORD? Do I not abhor them that rise up against thee?
22 I hate them with absolute hatred—they have become my enemies!
Yea, 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 the way of trouble be within me, And lead me in the way everlasting!
