Psalm 13912
For the music director, a psalm of David
139:1 O LORD, you examine me1
and know.
139:2 You know when I sit down and when I get up;
even from far away you understand my motives.
139:3 You carefully observe me when I travel or
when I lie down to rest;2
you are aware of everything I do.3
139:4 Certainly4
my tongue does not frame a word
without you, O LORD, being thoroughly aware of it.5
139:5 You squeeze me in from behind and in front;
you place your hand on me.
139:6 Your knowledge is way beyond my comprehension;
it is so far beyond me, I am unable to fathom it.6
139:7 Where can I go to escape your spirit?
Where can I flee to escape your presence?7
139:8 If I were to ascend8
to heaven, you would be there.
If I were to sprawl out in Sheol, there you would be.9
139:9 If I were to fly away10
on the wings of the dawn,11
and settle down on the other side12
of the sea,
139:10 even there your hand would guide me,
your right hand would grab hold of me.
139:11 If I were to say, “Certainly the darkness
will cover me,13
and the light will turn to night all around me,”14
139:12 even the darkness is not too dark for you
to see,15
and the night is as bright as16
day,
darkness and light are the same to you.17
139:13 Certainly18
you made my kidneys,19
you wove me together20
in my mother’s womb.
139:14 I will give you thanks, because your deeds
are awesome and amazing.21
You knew me thoroughly,22
139:15 my bones were not hidden from you,
when23
I was made in secret,
and sewed together in the depths of the earth.24
139:16 Your eyes saw me when I was a fetus.25
All the days ordained for me
were recorded in your scroll
before one of them came into existence.26
139:17 How difficult it is for me to fathom your
thoughts about me, O God!27
How vast are their sum total!28
139:18 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.29
139:19 If only30
you would kill the wicked, O God!
Get away from me, you violent men!31
139:20 They32
rebel against you33
and act deceitfully;34
your enemies lie.35
139:21 O LORD, do I not hate those who hate you,
and despise those who oppose you?36
139:22 I absolutely hate them,37
they have become my enemies.
139:23 Examine me, and probe my thoughts!38
Test me, and know my concerns!39
139:24 See if there is any idolatrous tendency40
in me,
and lead me in the reliable ancient path!41