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139 To the Overseer. -- A Psalm by David. Jehovah, Thou hast searched me, and knowest.

Thou -- Thou hast known my sitting down, And my rising up, Thou hast attended to my thoughts from afar.

My path and my couch Thou hast fanned, And [with] all my ways hast been acquainted.

For there is not a word in my tongue, Lo, O Jehovah, Thou hast known it all!

Behind and before Thou hast besieged me, And Thou dost place on me Thy hand.

Knowledge too wonderful for me, It hath been set on high, I am not able for it.

Whither do I go from Thy Spirit? And whither from Thy face do I flee?

If I ascend the heavens -- there Thou [art], And spread out a couch in Sheol, lo, Thee!

I take the wings of morning, I dwell in the uttermost part of the sea,

10 Also there Thy hand doth lead me, And Thy right hand doth hold me.

11 And I say, `Surely darkness bruiseth me, Then night [is] light to me.

12 Also darkness hideth not from Thee, And night as day shineth, as [is] darkness so [is] light.

13 For Thou -- Thou hast possessed my reins, Thou dost cover me in my mother's belly.

14 I confess Thee, because that [with] wonders I have been distinguished. Wonderful [are] Thy works, And my soul is knowing [it] well.

15 My substance was not hid from Thee, When I was made in secret, Curiously wrought in the lower part of earth.

16 Mine unformed substance Thine eyes saw, And on Thy book all of them are written, The days they were formed -- And not one among them.

17 And to me how precious have been Thy thoughts, O God, how great hath been their sum!

18 I recount them! than the sand they are more, I have waked, and I am still with Thee.

19 Dost Thou slay, O God, the wicked? Then, men of blood, turn aside from me!

20 Who exchange Thee for wickedness, Lifted up to vanity [are] Thine enemies.

21 Do not I hate, Jehovah, those hating Thee? And with Thy withstanders grieve myself?

22 [With] perfect hatred I have hated them, Enemies they have become to me.

23 Search me, O God, and know my heart, Try me, and know my thoughts,

24 And see if a grievous way be in me, And lead me in a way age-during!

Psalm 139

For the director of music. Of David. A psalm.

You have searched me,(A) Lord,
    and you know(B) me.
You know when I sit and when I rise;(C)
    you perceive my thoughts(D) from afar.
You discern my going out(E) and my lying down;
    you are familiar with all my ways.(F)
Before a word is on my tongue
    you, Lord, know it completely.(G)
You hem me in(H) behind and before,
    and you lay your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,(I)
    too lofty(J) for me to attain.

Where can I go from your Spirit?
    Where can I flee(K) from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens,(L) you are there;
    if I make my bed(M) in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
    if I settle on the far side of the sea,
10 even there your hand will guide me,(N)
    your right hand(O) will hold me fast.
11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me
    and the light become night around me,”
12 even the darkness will not be dark(P) to you;
    the night will shine like the day,
    for darkness is as light to you.

13 For you created my inmost being;(Q)
    you knit me together(R) in my mother’s womb.(S)
14 I praise you(T) because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
    your works are wonderful,(U)
    I know that full well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you
    when I was made(V) in the secret place,
    when I was woven together(W) in the depths of the earth.(X)
16 Your eyes saw my unformed body;
    all the days ordained(Y) for me were written in your book
    before one of them came to be.
17 How precious to me are your thoughts,[a](Z) God!(AA)
    How vast is the sum of them!
18 Were I to count them,(AB)
    they would outnumber the grains of sand(AC)
    when I awake,(AD) I am still with you.

19 If only you, God, would slay the wicked!(AE)
    Away from me,(AF) you who are bloodthirsty!(AG)
20 They speak of you with evil intent;
    your adversaries(AH) misuse your name.(AI)
21 Do I not hate those(AJ) who hate you, Lord,
    and abhor(AK) those who are in rebellion against you?
22 I have nothing but hatred for them;
    I count them my enemies.(AL)
23 Search me,(AM) God, and know my heart;(AN)
    test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 See if there is any offensive way(AO) in me,
    and lead me(AP) in the way everlasting.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 139:17 Or How amazing are your thoughts concerning me