Psalm 139

1 For the choir director; a psalm by David. O Lord, you have examined me, and you know me.2 You alone know when I sit down and when I get up.You read my thoughts from far away.3 You watch me when I travel and when I rest.You are familiar with all my ways.4 Even before there is a single word on my tongue,you know all about it, Lord.5 You are all around me—in front of me and in back of me.You lay your hand on me.6 Such knowledge is beyond my grasp.It is so high I cannot reach it.7 Where can I go to get away from your Spirit?Where can I run to get away from you?8 If I go up to heaven, you are there.If I make my bed in hell, you are there.9 If I climb upward on the rays of the morning sunor land on the most distant shore of the sea where the sun sets,10 even there your hand would guide meand your right hand would hold on to me.11 If I say, “Let the darkness hide meand let the light around me turn into night,”12 even the darkness is not too dark for you.Night is as bright as day.Darkness and light are the same to you.13 You alone created my inner being.You knitted me together inside my mother.14 I will give thanks to youbecause I have been so amazingly and miraculously made.Your works are miraculous, and my soul is fully aware of this.15 My bones were not hidden from youwhen I was being made in secret,when I was being skillfully woven in an underground workshop.16 Your eyes saw me when I was only a fetus.Every day of my life was recorded in your bookbefore one of them had taken place.17 How precious are your thoughts concerning me, O God!How vast in number they are!18 If I try to count them,there would be more of them than there are grains of sand.When I wake up, I am still with you.19 I wish that you would kill wicked people, O God,and that bloodthirsty people would leave me alone.20 They say wicked things about you.Your enemies misuse your name.21 Shouldn’t I hate those who hate you, O Lord?Shouldn’t I be disgusted with those who attack you?22 I hate them with all my heart.They have become my enemies.23 Examine me, O God, and know my mind.Test me, and know my thoughts.24 See whether I am on an evil path.Then lead me on the everlasting path.

Psalm 139

For the music director, a psalm of David.

1 O Lord, you examine me and know.

2 You know when I sit down and when I get up;
even from far away you understand my motives.

3 You carefully observe me when I travel or when I lie down to rest;
you are aware of everything I do.

4 Certainly my tongue does not frame a word
without you, O Lord, being thoroughly aware of it.

5 You squeeze me in from behind and in front;
you place your hand on me.

6 Your knowledge is beyond my comprehension;
it is so far beyond me, I am unable to fathom it.

7 Where can I go to escape your spirit?
Where can I flee to escape your presence?

8 If I were to ascend to heaven, you would be there.
If I were to sprawl out in Sheol, there you would be.

9 If I were to fly away on the wings of the dawn,
and settle down on the other side of the sea,

10 even there your hand would guide me,
your right hand would grab hold of me.

11 If I were to say, “Certainly the darkness will cover me,
and the light will turn to night all around me,”

12 even the darkness is not too dark for you to see,
and the night is as bright as day;
darkness and light are the same to you.

13 Certainly you made my mind and heart;
you wove me together in my mother’s womb.

14 I will give you thanks because your deeds are awesome and amazing.
You knew me thoroughly;

15 my bones were not hidden from you,
when I was made in secret
and sewed together in the depths of the earth.

16 Your eyes saw me when I was inside the womb.
All the days ordained for me
were recorded in your scroll
before one of them came into existence.

17 How difficult it is for me to fathom your thoughts about me, O God!
How vast is their sum total!

18 If I tried to count them,
they would outnumber the grains of sand.
Even if I finished counting them,
I would still have to contend with you.

19 If only you would kill the wicked, O God!
Get away from me, you violent men!

20 They rebel against you and act deceitfully;
your enemies lie.

21 O Lord, do I not hate those who hate you,
and despise those who oppose you?

22 I absolutely hate them,
they have become my enemies!

23 Examine me, and probe my thoughts!
Test me, and know my concerns!

24 See if there is any idolatrous tendency in me,
and lead me in the reliable ancient path!