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.
Psalm 139
For the director of music. Of David. A psalm.
1You have searched me, Lord,
and you know me.
2You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
3You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.
4Before a word is on my tongue
you, Lord, know it completely.
5You hem me in behind and before,
and you lay your hand upon me.
6Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.
7Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
8If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
9If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
10even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.
11If I say, ‘Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,’
12even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.
13For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
15My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
16Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
17How precious to me are your thoughts,139:17 Or How amazing are your thoughts concerning me God!
How vast is the sum of them!
18Were I to count them,
they would outnumber the grains of sand –
when I awake, I am still with you.
19If only you, God, would slay the wicked!
Away from me, you who are bloodthirsty!
20They speak of you with evil intent;
your adversaries misuse your name.
21Do I not hate those who hate you, Lord,
and abhor those who are in rebellion against you?
22I have nothing but hatred for them;
I count them my enemies.
23Search me, God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.
