Psalms 139
1 For the Leader. A Psalm of David. O LORD, Thou hast searched me, and known me.
“For the leader of the music. A psalm of David.” O LORD! thou hast searched me and known me!
2 Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, Thou understandest my thought afar off.
Thou knowest my sitting-down and my rising-up; Thou understandest my thoughts from afar!
3 Thou measurest my going about and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.
Thou seest my path and my lying-down, And art acquainted with all my ways!
4 For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, Thou knowest it altogether.
For before the word is upon my tongue, Behold, O LORD! thou knowest it altogether!
5 Thou hast hemmed me in behind and before, and laid Thy hand upon me.
Thou besettest me behind and before, And layest thine hand upon me!
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; too high, I cannot attain unto it.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is high, I cannot attain to it!
7 Whither shall I go from Thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from Thy presence?
Whither shall I go from thy spirit, And whither shall I flee from thy presence?
8 If I ascend up into heaven, Thou art there; if I make my bed in the nether-world, behold, Thou art there. (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 take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;
If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the remotest parts of the sea,
10 Even there would Thy hand lead me, and Thy right hand would hold me.
Even there shall thy hand lead me, And thy right hand shall hold me!
11 And if I say: 'Surely the darkness shall envelop me, and the light about me shall be night';
If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me;” Even the night shall be light about me.
12 Even the darkness is not too dark for Thee, but the night shineth as the day; the darkness is even as the light.
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 For Thou hast made my reins; Thou hast knit me together in my mother's womb.
For thou didst form my reins; Thou didst weave me in my mother's womb.
14 I will give thanks unto Thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; wonderful are Thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.
I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvellous are thy works, And this my soul knoweth full well!
15 My frame was not hidden from Thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts 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 Thine eyes did see mine unformed substance, and in Thy book they were all written — even the days that were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.
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 How weighty also are Thy thoughts unto me, O God! How great is the sum of them!
How precious to me are thy thoughts, O God! How great is the sum of them!
18 If I would count them, they are more in number than the sand; were I to come to the end of them, I would still be with Thee.
If I should count them, they would outnumber the sand: When I awake, I am still with thee!
19 If Thou but wouldest slay the wicked, O God — depart from me therefore, ye men of blood;
O that thou wouldst slay the wicked, O God! Ye men of blood, depart from me!
20 Who utter Thy name with wicked thought, they take it for falsehood, even Thine enemies —
For they speak against thee wickedly; Thine enemies utter thy name for falsehood.
21 Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate Thee? And do not I strive with those that rise up against Thee?
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 utmost hatred; I count them mine enemies.
Yea, I hate them with perfect hatred; I count them mine enemies.
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart, try me, and know my thoughts;
Search me, O God! and know my heart; Try me, and know my thoughts;
24 And see if there be any way in me that is grievous, and lead me in the way everlasting.
And see if the way of trouble be within me, And lead me in the way everlasting!
