Psalms 139
JPS Tanakh (Jewish Publication Society, 1917)
World English Bible
1For the Leader. A Psalm of David. O LORD, Thou hast searched me, and known me.
1LORD, you have searched me, and you know me.
2Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, Thou understandest my thought afar off.
2You know my sitting down and my rising up. You perceive my thoughts from afar.
3Thou measurest my going about and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.
3You search out my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways.
4For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, Thou knowest it altogether.
4For there is not a word on my tongue, but behold, LORD, you know it altogether.
5Thou hast hemmed me in behind and before, and laid Thy hand upon me.
5You hem me in behind and before. You laid your hand on me.
6Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; too high, I cannot attain unto it.
6This knowledge is beyond me. It’s lofty. I can’t attain it.
7Whither shall I go from Thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from Thy presence?
7Where could I go from your Spirit? Or where could I flee from your presence?
8If I ascend up into heaven, Thou art there; if I make my bed in the nether-world, behold, Thou art there.
8If I ascend up into heaven, you are there. If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, you are there!
9If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;
9If I take the wings of the dawn, and settle in the uttermost parts of the sea,
10Even there would Thy hand lead me, and Thy right hand would hold me.
10even there your hand will lead me, and your right hand will hold me.
11And if I say: 'Surely the darkness shall envelop me, and the light about me shall be night';
11If I say, “Surely the darkness will overwhelm me. The light around me will be night,”
12Even the darkness is not too dark for Thee, but the night shineth as the day; the darkness is even as the light.
12even the darkness doesn’t hide from you, but the night shines as the day. The darkness is like light to you.
13For Thou hast made my reins; Thou hast knit me together in my mother's womb.
13For you formed my inmost being. You knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14I will give thanks unto Thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; wonderful are Thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.
14I will give thanks to you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful. My soul knows that very well.
15My frame was not hidden from Thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
15My frame wasn’t hidden from you, when I was made in secret, woven together in the depths of the earth.
16Thine eyes did see mine unformed substance, and in Thy book they were all written — even the days that were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.
16Your eyes saw my body. In your book they were all written, the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there were none of them.
17How weighty also are Thy thoughts unto me, O God! How great is the sum of them!
17How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is their sum!
18If I would count them, they are more in number than the sand; were I to come to the end of them, I would still be with Thee.
18If I would count them, they are more in number than the sand. When I wake up, I am still with you.
19If Thou but wouldest slay the wicked, O God — depart from me therefore, ye men of blood;
19If only you, God, would kill the wicked. Get away from me, you bloodthirsty men!
20Who utter Thy name with wicked thought, they take it for falsehood, even Thine enemies —
20For they speak against you wickedly. Your enemies take your name in vain.
21Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate Thee? And do not I strive with those that rise up against Thee?
21LORD, don’t I hate those who hate you? Am I not grieved with those who rise up against you?
22I hate them with utmost hatred; I count them mine enemies.
22I hate them with perfect hatred. They have become my enemies.
23Search me, O God, and know my heart, try me, and know my thoughts;
23Search me, God, and know my heart. Try me, and know my thoughts.
24And see if there be any way in me that is grievous, and lead me in the way everlasting.
24See if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way.
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