One of David’s songs for the choir director.

139 Yahweh, you have examined me, and you know me.

2 You know when I sit down and when I stand up.

≈ You understand my thoughts from far away.

3 You’ve watched where I go and where I rest,

≈ and you’re familiar with everything I do.

4 Before the words even get to my tongue,

Yahweh, you already know everything that I’m going to say.

5 In front of me and behind me, you surround me

to use your power to protect me.

6 That knowledge is too amazing for me.

≈ It’s above me and beyond my reach.

7 Where can I go from your spirit?

Where could I run away to—away from your presence?

8 If I ascend up to the heavens, you’re there.

≈ If I make my bed in the grave, wow, you’re even there.

9 If I flew up high with the dawning sun

or stayed down in a remote part of the ocean,

10 you’d still be there to lead me with your hand

and you would help me.

11 If I said, “Surely the darkness will cover me,

and the light will become night around me,”

12 even the darkness wouldn’t be dark to you,

and the night would shine like the day.

The darkness is like the light to you.

13 Yes, you created my internal parts—

you put me together inside my mother’s womb.

14 I’ll praise you because it’s incredible how my body is made.

Everything you do is wonderful.

My inner being knows that very well.

15 My bones weren’t hidden from you when I was made in private—

when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.

16 Your eyes saw my unformed body.

All my history was already recorded in your book

even before any of those days had started.

17 Your thoughts are so precious to me, God.

They add up to something incredible.

18 If I counted them, there’d be more than the sand grains.

When I wake up, I’m still with you.

19 If only you’d kill the wicked, God

(and you violent men, get away from me),

20 because they speak against you due to their evil desires—

your enemies lie about you.

21 Yahweh, I certainly hate those who hate you.

I despise those who rebel against you.

22 I hate them completely—

they’ve become my enemies.

23 Examine me, God, and know my inner feelings.

≈ Test me and know my thoughts.

24 See if there is any wicked way in me,

and lead me on the timeless path.