Psalm 139
For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David.
Yahweh, you have searched me,
and you know me.
You know my sitting down and my rising up.
You perceive my thoughts from afar.
You search out my path and my lying down,
and are acquainted with all my ways.
For there is not a word on my tongue,
but, behold, Yahweh, you know it altogether.
You hem me in behind and before.
You laid your hand on me.
This knowledge is beyond me.
It’s lofty.
I can’t attain it.
Where could I go from your Spirit?
Or where could I flee from your presence?
If I ascend up into heaven, you are there.
If I make my bed in Sheol,+ behold, you are there!
If I take the wings of the dawn,
and settle in the uttermost parts of the sea;
10 Even there your hand will lead me,
and your right hand will hold me.
11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will overwhelm me;
the light around me will be night”;
12 even the darkness doesn’t hide from you,
but the night shines as the day.
The darkness is like light to you.
13 For you formed my inmost being.
You knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I will give thanks to you,
for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Your works are wonderful.
My soul knows that very well.
15 My frame wasn’t hidden from you,
when I was made in secret,
woven together in the depths of the earth.
16 Your 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.
17 How precious to me are your thoughts, God!
How vast is their sum!
18 If I would count them, they are more in number than the sand.
When I wake up, I am still with you.
19 If only you, God, would kill the wicked.
Get away from me, you bloodthirsty men!
20 For they speak against you wickedly.
Your enemies take your name in vain.
21 Yahweh, don’t I hate those who hate you?
Am I not grieved with those who rise up against you?
22 I hate them with perfect hatred.
They have become my enemies.
23 Search me, God, and know my heart.
Try me, and know my thoughts.
24 See if there is any wicked way in me,
and lead me in the everlasting way.
+1:2“Yahweh” is God’s proper Name, sometimes rendered “LORD” (all caps) in other translations.+2:2The word “Anointed” is the same as the word for “Messiah” or “Christ”+2:4The word translated “Lord” is “Adonai.”+2:12or, Kiss the son+3:2The Hebrew word rendered “God” is “אֱלֹהִ֑ים” (Elohim).+6:5Sheol is the place of the dead.+7:14“Behold”, from “הִנֵּה”, means look at, take notice, observe, see, or gaze at. It is often used as an interjection.+8:5Hebrew: Elohim. The word Elohim, used here, usually means “God”, but can also mean “gods”, “princes”, or “angels”. The Septuagint reads “angels” here.+9:17Sheol is the place of the dead.+16:10Sheol is the place of the dead.+18:5Sheol is the place of the dead.+18:50or, seed+22:16So Dead Sea Scrolls. Masoretic Text reads, “Like a lion, they pin my hands and feet.”+25:13or, seed+30:3Sheol is the place of the dead.+31:17Sheol is the place of the dead.+34:1Psalm 34 is an acrostic poem, with each verse starting with a letter of the alphabet (ordered from Alef to Tav).+37:26or, seed+42:1The Hebrew word rendered “God” is “אֱלֹהִ֑ים” (Elohim).+42:8“Yahweh” is God’s proper Name, sometimes rendered “LORD” (all caps) in other translations.+44:23The word translated “Lord” is “Adonai.”+45:17Alamoth is a musical term.+49:14Sheol is the place of the dead.+49:14Sheol is the place of the dead.+49:15Sheol is the place of the dead.+55:15Sheol is the place of the dead.+73:1The Hebrew word rendered “God” is “אֱלֹהִ֑ים” (Elohim).+73:20The word translated “Lord” is “Adonai.”+73:28“Yahweh” is God’s proper Name, sometimes rendered “LORD” (all caps) in other translations.+86:13Sheol is the place of the dead.+87:4Rahab is a reference to Egypt.+88:3Sheol is the place of the dead.+89:4or, seed+89:29or, seed+89:36or, seed+89:48Sheol is the place of the dead.+89:52The Hebrew word rendered “God” is “אֱלֹהִ֑ים” (Elohim).+90:1The word translated “Lord” is “Adonai.”+90:13“Yahweh” is God’s proper Name, sometimes rendered “LORD” (all caps) in other translations.+97:7LXX reads “angels” instead of “gods”.+102:28or, seed+104:4or, angels+105:6or, seed+106:27or, seed+107:1“Yahweh” is God’s proper Name, sometimes rendered “LORD” (all caps) in other translations.+107:11The Hebrew word rendered “God” is “אֱלֹהִ֑ים” (Elohim).+109:21The word translated “Lord” is “Adonai.”+111:1Psalm 111 is an acrostic poem, with each verse after the initial “Praise Yah!” starting with a letter of the alphabet (ordered from Alef to Tav).+112:1Psalm 112 is an acrostic poem, with each verse after the initial “Praise Yah!” starting with a letter of the alphabet (ordered from Alef to Tav).+112:2or, seed+116:3Sheol is the place of the dead.+118:22Literally,head118:22of the corner+138:1The word elohim, used here, usually means “God” but can also mean “gods”, “princes”, or “angels”.+139:8Sheol is the place of the dead.