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Psalm 139

For the choir director; a psalm by David.

O Yahweh, you have examined me, and you know me.
You alone know when I sit down and when I get up.
    You read my thoughts from far away.
You watch me when I travel and when I rest.
    You are familiar with all my ways.
        Even before there is a single word on my tongue,
            you know all about it, Yahweh.
You are all around me—in front of me and in back of me.
    You lay your hand on me.
        Such knowledge is beyond my grasp.
        It is so high I cannot reach it.

Where can I go to get away from your Ruach?
    Where can I run to get away from you?
If I go up to heaven, you are there.
    If I make my bed in hell, you are there.
If I climb upward on the rays of the morning sun
    or land on the most distant shore of the sea where the sun sets,
10 even there your hand would guide me
    and your right hand would hold on to me.
11 If I say, “Let the darkness hide me
    and 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 you
    because 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 you
    when 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 book
        before one of them had taken place.
17 How precious are your thoughts concerning me, O El!
    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 Eloah,
    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 Yahweh?
    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 El, 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 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