Psalms 139
Superscription
The psalmist praises God who knows and searches him
אַתָּה יָדַעְתָּ שִׁבְתִּי וְקוּמִי בַּנְתָּה לְרֵעִי מֵרָחֽוֹק׃
Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.
אָרְחִי וְרִבְעִי זֵרִיתָ וְֽכָל-דְּרָכַי הִסְכַּֽנְתָּה׃
Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.
כִּי אֵין מִלָּה בִּלְשׁוֹנִי הֵן יְהוָה יָדַעְתָּ כֻלָּֽהּ׃
For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.
אָחוֹר וָקֶדֶם צַרְתָּנִי וַתָּשֶׁת עָלַי כַּפֶּֽכָה׃
Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.
פְּלִיאָֽה דַעַת מִמֶּנִּי נִשְׂגְּבָה לֹא-אוּכַֽל לָֽהּ׃
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.
Nowhere to flee from God's presence
אָנָה אֵלֵךְ מֵרוּחֶךָ וְאָנָה מִפָּנֶיךָ אֶבְרָֽח׃
Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?
אִם-אֶסַּק שָׁמַיִם שָׁם אָתָּה וְאַצִּיעָה שְּׁאוֹל הִנֶּֽךָּ׃
If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.
אֶשָּׂא כַנְפֵי-שָׁחַר אֶשְׁכְּנָה בְּאַחֲרִית יָֽם׃
If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;
גַּם-שָׁם יָדְךָ תַנְחֵנִי וְֽתֹאחֲזֵנִי יְמִינֶֽךָ׃
Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.
וָאֹמַר אַךְ-חֹשֶׁךְ יְשׁוּפֵנִי וְלַיְלָה אוֹר בַּעֲדֵֽנִי׃
If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.
גַּם-חֹשֶׁךְ לֹֽא-יַחְשִׁיךְ מִמֶּךָ וְלַיְלָה כַּיּוֹם יָאִיר כַּחֲשֵׁיכָה כָּאוֹרָֽה׃
Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.
Fearfully and wonderfully made
כִּֽי-אַתָּה קָנִיתָ כִלְיֹתָי תְּסֻכֵּנִי בְּבֶטֶן אִמִּֽי׃
For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb.
אֽוֹדְךָ עַל כִּי נוֹרָאוֹת נִפְלֵיתִי נִפְלָאִים מַעֲשֶׂיךָ וְנַפְשִׁי יֹדַעַת מְאֹֽד׃
I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.
לֹא-נִכְחַד עָצְמִי מִמֶּךָּ אֲשֶׁר-עֻשֵּׂיתִי בַסֵּתֶר רֻקַּמְתִּי בְּֽתַחְתִּיּוֹת אָֽרֶץ׃
My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
גָּלְמִי׀ רָאוּ עֵינֶיךָ וְעַֽל-סִפְרְךָ כֻּלָּם יִכָּתֵבוּ יָמִים יֻצָּרוּ וְלוֹ אֶחָד בָּהֶֽם׃
Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.
וְלִי מַה-יָּקְרוּ רֵעֶיךָ אֵל מֶה עָצְמוּ רָאשֵׁיהֶֽם׃
How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!
אֶסְפְּרֵם מֵחוֹל יִרְבּוּן הֱקִיצֹתִי וְעוֹדִי עִמָּֽךְ׃
If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.
A plea against the wicked and a prayer to be searched
אִם-תִּקְטֹל אֱלוֹהַּ׀ רָשָׁע וְאַנְשֵׁי דָמִים סוּרוּ מֶֽנִּי׃
Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: depart from me therefore, ye bloody men.
אֲשֶׁר יֹמְרוּךָ לִמְזִמָּה נָשׂוּא לַשָּׁוְא עָרֶֽיךָ׃
For they speak against thee wickedly, and thine enemies take thy name in vain.
הֲלֽוֹא-מְשַׂנְאֶיךָ יְהוָה׀ אֶשְׂנָא וּבִתְקוֹמְמֶיךָ אֶתְקוֹטָֽט׃
Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?
תַּכְלִית שִׂנְאָה שְׂנֵאתִים לְאוֹיְבִים הָיוּ לִֽי׃
I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies.
חָקְרֵנִי אֵל וְדַע לְבָבִי בְּחָנֵנִי וְדַע שַׂרְעַפָּֽי׃
Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
וּרְאֵה אִם-דֶּֽרֶךְ-עֹצֶב בִּי וּנְחֵנִי בְּדֶרֶךְ עוֹלָֽם׃
And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.