Psalms 139

1 For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. LORD, thou hast searched me, and known [me].

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

2 Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.

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.

3 Thou searchest out my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.

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

4 For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.

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

5 Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.

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

6 [Such] knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.

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

7 Whither shall I from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?

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

8 If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in Sheol, behold, thou art there. (Sheol h7585)

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

9 If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;

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,

10 Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.

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

11 If I say, Surely the darkness shall overwhelm me, and the light about me shall be night;

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

12 Even the darkness hideth not from thee, but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike [to thee].

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

13 For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb.

You made me from the inside out, shaping 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 praise you for making me in such an awesome and wonderful way. What you do is incredible—I realize this completely!

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 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.”

16 Thine eyes did see mine unperfect substance, and in thy book were all [my members] written, which day by day were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.

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.

17 How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!

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

18 If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.

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

19 Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: depart from me therefore, ye bloodthirsty men.

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

20 For they speak against thee wickedly, and thine enemies take [thy name] in vain.

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

21 Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?

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

22 I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies.

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

23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me and know my thoughts:

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

24 And see if there be any way of wickedness in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

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