Psalm 139
For the director of music. A psalm of David.
1Lord, you have seen what is in my heart.
You know all about me.
2You know when I sit down and when I get up.
You know what I’m thinking even though you are far away.
3You know when I go out to work and when I come back home.
You know exactly how I live.
4Lord, even before I speak a word,
you know all about it.
5You are all around me, behind me and in front of me.
You hold me safe in your hand.
6I’m amazed at how well you know me.
It’s more than I can understand.
7How can I get away from your Spirit?
Where can I go to escape from you?
8If I go up to the heavens, you are there.
If I lie down in the deepest parts of the earth, you are also there.
9Suppose I were to rise with the sun in the east.
Suppose I travel to the west where it sinks into the ocean.
10Your hand would always be there to guide me.
Your right hand would still be holding me close.
11Suppose I were to say, “I’m sure the darkness will hide me.
The light around me will become as dark as night.”
12Even that darkness would not be dark to you.
The night would shine like the day,
because darkness is like light to you.
13You created the deepest parts of my being.
You put me together inside my mother’s body.
14How you made me is amazing and wonderful.
I praise you for that.
What you have done is wonderful.
I know that very well.
15None of my bones was hidden from you
when you made me inside my mother’s body.
That place was as dark as the deepest parts of the earth.
When you were putting me together there,
16your eyes saw my body even before it was formed.
You planned how many days I would live.
You wrote down the number of them in your book
before I had lived through even one of them.
17God, your thoughts about me are priceless.
No one can possibly add them all up.
18If I could count them,
they would be more than the grains of sand.
If I were to fall asleep counting and then wake up,
you would still be there with me.
19God, I wish you would kill the people who are evil!
I wish those murderers would get away from me!
20They are your enemies. They misuse your name.
They misuse it for their own evil purposes.
21Lord, I really hate those who hate you!
I really hate those who rise up against you!
22I have nothing but hatred for them.
I consider them to be my enemies.
23God, see what is in my heart.
Know what is there.
Test me.
Know what I’m thinking.
24See if there’s anything in my life you don’t like.
Help me live in the way that is always right.
To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.
1O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me.
2Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.
3Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.139.3 compassest: or, winnowest
4For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.
5Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.
6Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.
7Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?
8If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.
9If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;
10Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.
11If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.
12Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.139.12 hideth…: Heb. darkeneth not139.12 the darkness and…: Heb. as is the darkness, so is the light
13For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb.
14I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.139.14 right…: Heb. greatly
15My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.139.15 substance: or, strength, or, body
16Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.139.16 all…: Heb. all of them139.16 which…: or, what days they should be fashioned
17How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!
18If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.
19Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: depart from me therefore, ye bloody men.
20For they speak against thee wickedly, and thine enemies take thy name in vain.
21Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?
22I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies.
23Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
24And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.139.24 wicked…: Heb. way of pain, or, grief
