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This is a song that David wrote.

It is for the music leader.

God understands me[a]

139 Lord, you look deep inside me,
    and you know all about me.
You know when I sit down,
    and you know when I get up.
Even when you are far away,
    you understand what I am thinking about.
You see me when I go out,
    and you see me when I stay at home.
You know everything that I do!
Yes Lord, before I open my mouth to speak,
    you know what I will say.
You are all around me, in front of me and behind me.
    You put your hand on me to help me.
You know so much about me, it is wonderful.
    I cannot understand it.
    My thoughts cannot reach as high as that!

Is there anywhere that I can go
    to run away from your Spirit?
Anywhere that I go, you are already there!
If I go up to heaven,
    you would be there.
If I dig deep down into the ground to reach Sheol,
    you would be there too.
If I fly away to where the sun rises in the east,
or to the other side of the sea in the west,
    you would be there.
10 You would use your hand to lead me.
    Your strong right hand would keep me safe.
11 I might say, ‘I will hide myself in the dark,
    and the light round me will change into night.’
12 But it is never too dark for you to see.
    For you, the night has as much light as the day.
    Darkness and light are the same to you!

13 You made every part of me.
You made me grow inside my mother before I was born.
14 I thank you for the wonderful way that you have made me.
    Everything that you do is wonderful!
    I know it is true.
15 While you caused me to grow in a secret place,
    none of my body was hidden from you.
    You made me deep in the earth.[b]
16 Your eyes watched me before I was born.
Before I had seen the light of day,
    you decided how many days I would live!
    You wrote it down in your book.
17 You have so many thoughts about me, God,
    that I cannot understand them all.
18 They are too many for me to count,
    more than the sand on the shore of the sea.
Even if I finished counting them,
    you would still be there!

19 God, you should surely destroy the wicked people!
    Yes, you murderers, leave me alone!
20 Those people say bad things against you, God.
    Your enemies always tell lies.
21 Lord, I hate those people who hate you.
    I have no time for those who turn against you.
22 Yes, I really hate them.
    Your enemies are my enemies too.
23 Please God, look deep inside me.
    See what is there in my thoughts.
24 Show me if I am following any evil way.
    Lead me in the right way that has always been true.

Footnotes

  1. 139:1 This psalm is in 4 parts:
    Verses 1-6: God knows all about us.
    Verses 7-12: We cannot hide from God.
    Verses 13-18: God made us.
    Verses 19-24: David prays about his enemies and himself.
  2. 139:15 ‘A secret place’ and ‘deep in the earth’ mean inside his mother before he was born.

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