Psalms 139

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

[For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David.] YHWH, you have searched me, and you know me.

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

You know my sitting down and my rising up. You perceive my thoughts from afar.

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

You search out my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways.

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

For there is not a word on my tongue, but, look, YHWH, you know it altogether.

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

You encircle me behind and in front, and you place your hand upon me.

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

This knowledge is beyond me. It's lofty. I can't attain it.

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

Where could I go from your Spirit? Or where could I flee from 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 ascend up into heaven, you are there. If I make my bed in Sheol, look, you are 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 dawn, and settle in the uttermost parts of the sea;

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

Even there your hand will lead me, and your right hand will hold me.

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

If I say, "Surely the darkness will overwhelm me; the light around me will be night;"

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 the darkness doesn't hide from you, but the night shines as the day. The darkness is like light to you.

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

For you formed my inmost being. You knit me together 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 give thanks to you, for I am awesomely and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful, and my soul knows that very 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 wasn't hidden from you, when I was made in secret, woven 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.

Your eyes saw my body. In your book they were all written, the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there were none of them.

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

How precious to me are your thoughts, God. How vast is the sum of them.

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

If I would count them, they are more in number than the sand. When I wake up, I am still with you.

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

If only you, God, would kill the wicked. Get away from me, you bloodthirsty men.

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

For they speak against you wickedly. Your enemies take your name 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?

YHWH, do I not hate those who hate you? Am I not grieved with those who rise up against you?

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

I hate them with perfect hatred. They have become my enemies.

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

Search me, God, and know my heart. Try me, and know my thoughts.

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

See if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way.