Psalms 139:1-18 NLT

O LORD, you have examined my heart and know everything about me.
The very centre of my being
In my heart of hearts
You know my thoughts and feelings
My beliefs and doubts
All I do and say
Is fully in Your view
Tomorrow and yesterday
All is known by You

You know when I sit down or stand up.
If I’m walking and talking
Or silently thinking
Scratching or sneezing
Crying or laughing
You see every move
Know what is happening
When a single hair falls
It is You who is counting

You know my thoughts even when I’m far away.
All of my thoughts
Even deep within my heart
Are known to You even
When it feels like we’re apart
No place or distance
Can deafen Your ears
To the cries of my heart
The joys and the fears.

You see me when I travel and when I rest at home.
There is nowhere I can go
No place to stop and stay
Where Your eyes do not see me
See me work and play.
When the journey’s long and hard
You are counting the cost
When I rest in Your love
You replenish what I’ve lost.

You know everything I do.
From cleaning my teeth
And putting on my shoes
To serve paupers or kings
You see all that I do.
Hidden or with crowds
You know where I stand
And who is by my side
And what is in my hand.

You know what I am going to say even before I say it, LORD.
The words I am thinking
Before I speak them out
Are known to You
I do not need to shout
Blessings or curses
You see them all
Speak kind and gentle words
That is Your call

You go before me and follow me.
Every challenge
Every day
You go before me
Make the way
And as I leave the scene
You are my rearguard cover
My hiding place, my shield
My fortress and my lover

You place your hand of blessing on my head.
The touch of Your hand
Reminds me I’m Your child
You shower me with blessings
Like a much loved son
I feel Your hand of grace
I feel Your hand of mercy
Your touch upon my face
Is my heart’s bounty

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand!
The knowledge of Your love
That You trust to my command
Is more precious than diamonds
More than I can understand
You know all my frailties
You catch me when I fall
Your love is never ending
Heavenly Father, my all in all.

I can never escape from your Spirit!
From the well You put within me
Your Spirit flows out
To my body, soul and spirit
He gives Your eternal life.
And as He moves around me
To wrap me in Your love
He binds me ever closer for
Of You I’m now a part

I can never get away from your presence!
There is no time or distance
No darkness or light
That can take me from Your Presence
Now I’m one with Your heart
No power in earth and heaven
can send You away
Your Spirit binds me to You,
every day.

If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there.
I can go up to heaven
By Your side, at Your throne
Your Presence and Your Glory
Everywhere is shone
In the darkness of death
You are my shining light
My life and love, You’re with me
Through the darkest night

If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me.
I cannot move so fast
Nor travel so far
That I leave You behind
For of me You are a part
Wherever I go
You gently steer my course
Your strength undergirding
Your power my resource

I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night— but even in darkness I cannot hide from you.
There is no darkness
That could hide me from you
Even in the darkest night
Your love comes shining through
I cannot escape
The brilliance of Your face
That sees with eyes of love
And says You are my hiding place

To you the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are the same to you.
The brilliance of Your love
Lights every place
Darkness cannot stand
Against the Glory of Your face
Your laughter lights the heavens
Your joy floods the earth
The passion in Your Presence
Gives darkness no berth

You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb.
My bones my organs
My muscles my soul
You formed each part
You made me whole
You smiled and sang
With joy You rang
Your touch, Your breath
And my life began

Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!
Body and spirit
Heart and soul,
Hands and feet
To till the soil
Eyes to see
And a nose to smell
Ears to hear
And touch that I feel
A mind to think
A mouth to talk
Your praises I sing
For Your magnificent work!

Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.
The pattern of skin
The structure of cells
The colour of eyes
Hair straight or in curls
The sweetness of honey
The singing which swells
The warmth of a smile
Show off Your skills

You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.
When others were blind
To who I would be
In the darkness You saw
The child that was me
You watched and You guarded
My life in the womb
Until I came forth
Ready to bloom

You saw me before I was born.
Before I was born
Or even conceived
You had me planned
And Your plans succeed
So even as an embryo
Your eyes were on me
To be sure I would grow
With loving certainty

Every day of my life was recorded in your book.
So we’ll do you know me
So inside out
You know all of my choices
All of my doubts
All I will say
And all I will do
You had recorded
Because You knew

Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.
You had me planned
And You knew what You’d get
My life You could see
From beginning to end
Your child in the planning
Your child by choice
Your love never ending
Over me You rejoice

How precious are your thoughts about me, O God.
Each thought of You for me
Is more than diamonds or gold
They give life and health and joy
Their value is untold
That You would think of me
Pierces my heart
Your loving kindness flows
In each word You impart

They cannot be numbered! I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand!
So vast Your sum of thoughts
Just about me
They shine like the grains
Of sand beside the sea
Not one thought or a few
But many, many, many
To You I am that precious
Loved for eternity

And when I wake up, you are still with me!”
God is with me, God within me,
God behind me, God before me,
God beside me, God to win me,
God to comfort and restore me,
God beneath me, God above me,
God in quiet, God in danger,
God in hearts of all that love me,
God in mouth of friend and stranger.