Psalms 139

1 For the Leader. A Psalm of David. O LORD, Thou hast searched me, and known me.

Lord, thou hast proved me, and known me:

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

Thou hast know my sitting down, and my rising up.

3 Thou measurest my going about and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.

Thou hast understood my thoughts afar off: my path and my line thou hast searched out.

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

And thou hast foreseen all my ways: for there is no speech in my tongue.

5 Thou hast hemmed me in behind and before, and laid Thy hand upon me.

Behold, O Lord, thou hast known all things, the last and those of old: thou hast formed me, and hast laid thy hand upon me.

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

Thy knowledge is become wonderful to me: it is high, and I cannot reach to it.

7 Whither shall I go from Thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from Thy presence?

Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy face?

8 If I ascend up into heaven, Thou art there; if I make my bed in the nether-world, behold, Thou art there. (Sheol h7585)

If I ascend into heaven, thou art there: if I descend into hell, thou art present. (Sheol h7585)

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

If I take my wings early in the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea:

10 Even there would Thy hand lead me, and Thy right hand would hold me.

Even there also shall thy hand lead me: and thy right hand shall hold me.

11 And if I say: 'Surely the darkness shall envelop me, and the light about me shall be night';

And I said: Perhaps darkness shall cover me: and night shall be my light in my pleasures.

12 Even the darkness is not too dark for Thee, but the night shineth as the day; the darkness is even as the light.

But darkness shall not be dark to thee, and night shall be light as day: the darkness thereof, and the light thereof are alike to thee.

13 For Thou hast made my reins; Thou hast knit me together in my mother's womb.

For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast protected me from 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 praise thee, for thou art fearfully magnified: wonderful are thy works, and my soul knoweth right 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 bone is not hidden from thee, which thou hast made in secret: and my substance in the lower parts of the earth.

16 Thine eyes did see mine unformed substance, and in Thy book they were all written — even the days that were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.

Thy eyes did see my imperfect being, and in thy book all shall be written: days shall be formed, and no one in them.

17 How weighty also are Thy thoughts unto me, O God! How great is the sum of them!

But to me thy friends, O God, are made exceedingly honourable: their principality is exceedingly strengthened.

18 If I would count them, they are more in number than the sand; were I to come to the end of them, I would still be with Thee.

I will number them, and they shall be multiplied above the sand: I rose up and am still with thee.

19 If Thou but wouldest slay the wicked, O God — depart from me therefore, ye men of blood;

If thou wilt kill the wicked, O God: ye men of blood, depart from me:

20 Who utter Thy name with wicked thought, they take it for falsehood, even Thine enemies —

Because you say in thought: They shall receive thy cities in vain.

21 Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate Thee? And do not I strive with those that rise up against Thee?

Have I not hated them, O Lord, that hated thee: and pine away because of thy enemies?

22 I hate them with utmost hatred; I count them mine enemies.

I have hated them with a perfect hatred: and they are become enemies to me.

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

Prove me, O God, and know my heart: examine me, and know my paths.

24 And see if there be any way in me that is grievous, and lead me in the way everlasting.

And see if there be in me the way of iniquity: and lead me in the eternal way.