Add parallel Print Page Options

God Knows Everything

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

139 Lord, you have ·examined [investigated; searched] me
    and know all about me.
You know when I sit down and when I ·get up [rise].
    You ·know [understand] my thoughts ·before I think them [L from afar].
You ·know [L measure] ·where I go [L my path] and ·where I lie down [L my lying down].
    You ·know [are familiar with] ·everything I do [L all my path].
Lord, even ·before I say a word [L when no word is on my tongue],
    you already know ·it [L all of it].
You ·are all around me [L hem me in]—in front and in back—
    and have put your hand on me.
Your knowledge is ·amazing [wonderful; or overwhelming] to me;
    it is ·more than I can understand [too high/unattainable. I am not able to grasp it; Rom. 11:33].

Where can I go to get away from your Spirit?
    Where can I ·run [flee] from you?
If I ·go [climb] up to the heavens, you are there.
    If I ·lie down [spread out; make my bed] in ·the grave [L Sheol; C the grave or the underworld], you are there.
If I rise with the ·sun in the east [L wings of the dawn]
    and settle in the ·west beyond [L back of] the sea,
10 even there ·you [L your hand] would guide me.
    With your right hand you would ·hold [grab; seize] me.

11 I could say, “The darkness will ·hide [cover] me.
    Let the light around me turn into night.”
12 But even the darkness is not dark to you.
    The night ·is as light as [shines like] the day;
darkness and light are the same to you.

13 You ·made [created] my ·whole being [inward parts];
    you ·formed [knitted] me in my mother’s ·body [belly; womb].
14 I ·praise [thank] you because you made me in an ·amazing [awesome] and wonderful way.
    What you have done is wonderful.
    I know this very well.
15 ·You saw my bones being formed [L My bones were not hidden from you]
    as I ·took shape [was made] in ·my mother’s body [L secret].
When I was ·put together [L woven] ·there [L in the depths of the earth],
16     ·you [L your eyes] saw my ·body as it was formed [L embyro].
All the days ·planned [L formed] for me
    were written in your book
·before I was one day old [not one of them existed].

17 God, your thoughts are precious to me.
    ·They are so many [L How vast are their sum; Job 42:3]!
18 If I could count them,
    they would be more than all the grains of sand.
When I ·wake up [or come to the end],
    I am still with you.

19 God, I wish you would kill the wicked!
    Get away from me, you ·murderers [L people of blood]!
20 They ·say evil things about [make evil plans against] you.
    Your enemies ·use your name thoughtlessly [L lift in vain; Ex. 20:7].
21 Lord, ·I hate [L Do I not hate…?] those who hate you;
    ·I hate [L Do I not abhor…?] those who rise up against you.
22 I ·feel only hate for them [L hate them with a perfect/complete hatred];
    they are my enemies.

23 God, ·examine [investigate; search; v. 1] me and know my heart;
    test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 See if there is any ·bad thing [hurtful way] in me.
    Lead me on the ·road to everlasting life [L everlasting/or ancient way].

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