Psalm 139

1 O Jehovah, thou hast searched me, and known me.

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

3 Thou searchest out my path and my lying down, And art acquainted with all my ways.

4 For there is not a word in my tongue, But, lo, O Jehovah, thou knowest it altogether.

5 Thou hast beset me behind and before, And laid thy hand upon me.

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

7 Whither shall I go from thy Spirit? Or whither shall I flee from thy presence?

8 If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, thou art there.

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

10 Even there shall thy hand lead me, And thy right hand shall hold me.

11 If I say, Surely the darkness shall overwhelm me, And the light about me shall be night;

12 Even the darkness hideth not from thee, But the night shineth as the day: The darkness and the light are both alike to thee.

13 For thou didst form my inward parts: Thou didst cover me in 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.

15 My frame was not hidden from thee, When I was made in secret, And curiously wrought in the lowest 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 ordained for me, When as yet there was none of them.

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

18 If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: When I awake, I am still with thee.

19 Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: Depart from me therefore, ye bloodthirsty men.

20 For they speak against thee wickedly, And thine enemies take thy name in vain.

21 Do not I hate them, O Jehovah, that hate thee? And am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?

22 I hate them with perfect hatred: They are become mine enemies.

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

24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.

Psalms 139

The Lord is always near

1 You have looked deep
into my heart, Lord,
and you know-all about me.

2 You know when I am resting
or when I am working,
and from heaven
you discover my thoughts.

3 You notice everything I do
and everywhere I go.

4 Before I even speak a word,
you know what I will say,

5 and with your powerful arm
you protect me
from every side.

6 I can't understand all this!
Such wonderful knowledge
is far above me.

7 Where could I go to escape
from your Spirit
or from your sight?

8 If I were to climb up
to the highest heavens,
you would be there.
If I were to dig down
to the world of the dead
you would also be there.

9 Suppose I had wings
like the dawning day
and flew across the ocean.

10 Even then your powerful arm
would guide and protect me.

11 Or suppose I said, “I'll hide
in the dark until night comes
to cover me over.”

12 But you see in the dark
because daylight and dark
are all the same to you.

13 You are the one
who put me together
inside my mother's body,

14 and I praise you because of
the wonderful way
you created me.
Everything you do is marvellous!
Of this I have no doubt.

15 Nothing about me
is hidden from you!
I was secretly woven together
deep in the earth below,

16 but with your own eyes you saw
my body being formed.
Even before I was born,
you had written in your book
everything I would do.

17 Your thoughts are far beyond
my understanding,
much more than I
could ever imagine.

18 I try to count your thoughts,
but they outnumber the grains
of sand on the beach.
And when I awake,
I will find you nearby.

19 How I wish that you would kill
all cruel and heartless people
and protect me from them!

20 They are always rebelling
and speaking evil of you.t

21 You know I hate anyone
who hates you, Lord,
and refuses to obey.

22 They are my enemies too,
and I truly hate them.

23 Look deep into my heart, God,
and find out everything
I am thinking.

24 Don't let me follow evil ways,
but lead me in the way
that time has proved true.