Add parallel Print Page Options

To the chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

139 Jehovah, thou hast searched me, and known [me].

*Thou* knowest my down-sitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off;

Thou searchest out my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways;

For there is not yet a word on my tongue, [but] lo, O Jehovah, thou knowest it altogether.

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

O knowledge too wonderful for me! it is high, I cannot [attain] unto it.

Whither shall I go from thy Spirit? and whither flee from thy presence?

If I ascend up into the heavens thou art there; or if I make my bed in Sheol, behold, thou [art there];

[If] I take the wings of the dawn [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 And if I say, Surely darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night;

12 Even darkness hideth not from thee, and the night shineth as the day: the darkness is as the light.

13 For thou hast possessed my reins; thou didst cover me in my mother's womb.

14 I will praise thee, for I am fearfully, wonderfully made. Marvellous are thy works; and [that] my soul knoweth right well.

15 My bones were not hidden from thee when I was made in secret, curiously wrought in the lower parts of the earth.

16 Thine eyes did see my unformed substance, and in thy book all [my members] were written; [during many] days were they fashioned, when [as yet] there was none of them.

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

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

19 Oh that thou wouldest slay the wicked, O +God! And ye men of blood, depart from me.

20 For they speak of thee wickedly, they take [thy name] in vain, thine enemies.

21 Do not I hate them, O Jehovah, that hate thee? and do not I loathe them that rise up against thee?

22 I hate them with perfect hatred; I account them mine enemies.

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

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

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