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139 (For the one directing, Mizmor of Dovid). Hashem, Thou hast searched me, and known me.

Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, Thou hast binah of my thought from afar off.

Thou comprehendeth my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my drakhim.

For there is not a milah (word) in my leshon, but, lo, Hashem, Thou knowest it altogether.

Thou hast enclosed me achor (behind) and kedem (before), and laid Thine hand upon me.

Such da’as is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.

To where can I go from Thy Ruach [Hakodesh]? Or to where shall I flee from Thy presence?

If I ascend up into Shomayim, Thou art there; if I make my bed in Sheol, hinei, Thou art there.

If I take the wings of the shachar (dawn), and dwell in the uttermost acharit yam (the extreme end of the sea);

10 Even there shall Thy yad lead me, and Thy yamin shall hold me.

11 If I say, Surely the choshech shall cover me, even the lailah shall be ohr about me.

12 Even the choshech is not dark to Thee; but the lailah shineth as the yom; the choshech and the ohr are both alike to Thee.

13 For Thou hast created my inmost being; Thou didst interweave me in the beten immi.

14 I will praise Thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvellous are Thy ma’asim; and that my nefesh knoweth very well.

15 My atzamim (bones, frame) were not hid from Thee, when I was made beseter (in secret), and skillfully wrought in the depths of the Eretz.

16 Thine eyes did see my golem (embryo), yet being unformed; and in Thy Sefer (Book) all the yamim (days) ordained for me were written down, when as yet there were none of them.

17 How precious also are Thy thoughts unto me, O El! How great is the sum of them!

18 If I should count them, they are more in number than the chol (sand); when I awake, I am still with Thee.

19 Surely Thou wilt slay the rasha, O Eloah; depart from me therefore, ye anshei damim (bloodthirsty men).

20 For they speak of Thee craftily, and it is taken lashav [Ex 20:7] by Thy enemies.

21 Should not I hate them, Hashem, that hate Thee? And am not I to be at odds with those that rise up against Thee?

22 I abhor them with complete sinah; I count them mine enemies.

23 Search me, O El, and know my levav; test me, and know my thoughts;

24 And see if there be any derech otzev (torturous crooked road) in me, and lead me in the Derech Olam.

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