Psalms

The fifth book of Psalms, song 139, New English Translation and King James Version

Psalm 139

New English Translation

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!

King James Version

To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.

   1 O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me.
   2 Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.
   3 Thou compassest 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 LORD, thou knowest it altogether.
   5 Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine 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 hell, 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 cover me; even the night shall be light about me.
   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.
   13 For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me 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.
   15 My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts 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.
   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 bloody men.
   20 For they speak against thee wickedly, and thine enemies take thy name in vain.
   21 Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?
   22 I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them 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.