Psalms, 139

1. <To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.> O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known [me].

1. O Lord, you know me: you have scrutinized me.

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

2. You know when I sit and when I rise; beforehand you discern my thoughts.

3. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted [with] all my ways.

3. You observe my activities and times of rest; you are familiar with all my ways.

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

4. Before a word is formed in my mouth, you know what it is all about, O Lord.

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

5. From front to back you hedge me round, shielding me with your protecting hand.

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

6. Your knowledge leaves me astounded, it is too high for me to reach.

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

7. Where else could I go from your Spirit? Where could I flee from your presence?

8. If I ascend up into heaven, thou [art] there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou [art there].

8. You are there if I ascend the heavens; you are there if I descend to the depths.

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

9. If I ride on the wings of the dawn and settle on the far side of the sea,

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

10. even there your hand shall guide me and your right hand shall hold me safely.

11. If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.

11. Shall I say, "Let darkness hide me, I prefer the night as my light?"

12. Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light [are] both alike [to thee].

12. But darkness for you is not dark and night for you shines as the day.

13. For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb.

13. It was you who formed my inmost part and knit me together in my mother's womb.

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

14. I thank you for these wonders you have done, and my heart praises you for your marvelous deeds.

15. My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, [and] curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.

15. Even my bones were known to you when I was being formed in secret, fashioned in the depths of the earth.

16. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all [my members] were written, [which] in continuance were fashioned, when [as yet there was] none of them.

16. Your eyes saw the course of my days; they were all recorded in your book before any of them came to be.

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

17. How difficult it is to grasp your thoughts, O God! Their number cannot be counted.

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

18. If I tried to do so, they would outnumber the sands; I am never finished with you.

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

19. If only you would slay the wicked, O God, and drive away from me the violent!

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

20. They rebel falseheartedly, your foes blaspheme your name.

21. Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?

21. I hate those who hate you, O Lord, and loathe those who defy you.

22. I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies.

22. I hate them deeply, they have become my foes.

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

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.

24. See if my steps are going astray, and lead me in your eternal way.