Psalm 139
(LXX, 138)
By Jonathan Mitchell

Unto the Goal (With a View to Completion: the End Product); a Psalm by David

1. O LORD [= Yahweh], You assayed, examined, tested and proved me, and thus, You intimately and experientially know me.

2. You Yourself experientially know (have insight into) my sitting down, and my rising up; You Yourself, from afar (a distance), understand my thoughts, reasoned ideas and deliberations, and make my thorough designs and considerations flow together.

3. You trace out the tracks from me, and track the measure and line of my course through the reeds, and all my paths (or: roads; ways) You foresaw and had before Your eyes -

4. that (or: because; for) there is not a wrong (an unjust or unrighteous) word [other MSS: deceit] on (centered in) my tongue.

5. Look and consider, O LORD [= Yahweh], You Yourself intimately and experientially know all things: the last things and the first (or: former; original) things. You Yourself formed, shaped and fashioned me, and then You placed (set; laid) Your right hand upon me!

6. The personal, intimate knowledge of You (or: The experiential insight from You) is made wonderful, from out of the midst of me; it was made strong (or; was strengthened) - by no means could, or would, I keep on with power, face-to-face with it (or: can I continue able with it)!

7. Where could I at any point travel (or: journey), away from Your Spirit (the Breath-effect from You)? And could I at any point flee from Your Face (or: presence)?

8. If at any point I would ascend into the atmosphere (walk back up again into the midst of the heaven), You Yourself are there (continue existing in that place); if at any point I would descend into the Unseen (step down into the midst of hades), You are present (You continue existing at hand, near, at [my] side, and in the same sphere).

9. If at any point I would take up my wings along a straight and upright line [other MSS: into the sphere of, and at the time of, the Dawn], or would take up quarters and settle down into the midst of the extremities (farthest limits) of this sea,

10. it follows that even THERE, Your right hand will continue leading and guiding me, and also, Your right hand will keep on holding me fast, fully possessing me.

11. And when I said, "Surely darkness will progressively trample me down," even (or: then) Night [was] enlightenment (illumination; light) within my delight and luxury,

12. because, from You, Darkness will not keep on being darkened. Even Night will progressively be made to shine and give Light (or: be illuminated), as Day: as the Darkness from it (or: as its darkness), thus so, also, the Light from it (or: thus even, its light).

13. Because (or: Seeing that) You Yourself, O LORD [= Yahweh], brought to Yourself and acquired (or: procured; provided for Yourself; gained) my kidneys (the seats of my deep, inner emotions); You took hold of me, supporting me (or: took part in me, apprehending me and devoting Yourself to helping me), from the midst of my mother's womb,

14. I will habitually speak out the same Logos, by You (or: I will constantly confess and acknowledge, in You; I will repeatedly give thanks to You; make grateful praise for You), because I was made awesomely wonderful. Wonderful [are] Your works (the deeds from You), and my soul (consciousness; inner being) intimately and progressively knows [this] very well (or: continuously has exceeding insight).

15. This bone of mine (or: = My frame), which You produced, constructed and formed, in a hidden, concealed place, was not hidden or concealed from You, nor [was] my substance (supporting, firm stratum; foundation; essence; or: standing-under) [which was] within the midst of the deepest parts of the soil (or: in union with the lowest realms of the earth).

16. Your eyes saw my unwrought state (or: an unfinished, not-worked-down condition of me). When on Your scroll all people will one-after-another be written, day-by-day they will one-after-another be molded and fashioned.

17. When no one [existed] among them, still, these friends of Yours (associates of whom You are fond) were highly esteemed, valued and honored by me, and prized to me, O God. Their beginnings were exceedingly strengthened (or: The rulers from among them were made very strong).

18. I will proceed counting them, and they will progressively be multiplied - beyond (above) sand! I was awakened and raised up, and yet I myself [am] still with You.

19. If at some point You may eliminate folks who miss the target (or: would kill-off people who deviate, make mistakes or sin), O God, [saying], "Adult men of blood, at once, depart from Me!" -

20. and since You will proceed speaking, into [their] considered thoughts, devices and thorough reasonings, "They will take (or: receive; seize) your cities on into emptiness and vanity (for nothing),"

21. did I not, O God, hate (regard with ill will) those who continue hating You, and keep on regarding You with ill will? And then, in the presence of Your enemies (or: upon [the actions of] those hostile to You), I was caused to keep on wasting away.

22. I kept on regarding them with complete ill will (or: I continued hating them with perfect hatred). They became folks hostile to me (or had come to be my enemies).

23. Assay, examine, test and prove me, O God, and intimately know my heart; at some point visit and try me, and then experientially know my tracks: the measure and line of my courses through the reeds,

24. then see if [there is] an unlawful way (or: a lawless path or road) within the midst of me, and lead (guide) me, centered in [the] Way having the character of [the] Age [of Messiah] (in union with an eonian Path).

Jonathan

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