Psalm 139
The All-Knowing, Ever-Present God
For the choir director. A psalm of David.
1 LORD, you have searched me and known me. e
2 You know when I sit down and when I stand up;
you understand my thoughts from far away. f
3 You observe my travels and my rest;
you are aware of all my ways. g
4 Before a word is on my tongue,
you know all about it, LORD. h
you have placed your hand on me. i
6 This wondrous knowledge is beyond me.
It is lofty; I am unable to reach it. j
7 Where can I go to escape your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence? k
8 If I go up to heaven, you are there; l
if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there. m
9 If I live at the eastern horizon
or settle at the western limits, R
10 even there your hand will lead me;
your right hand will hold on to me. n
11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me,
and the light around me will be night” o—
12 even the darkness is not dark to you.
The night shines like the day;
darkness and light are alike to you. p
13 For it was you who created my inward parts; S
you knit me together in my mother’s womb. q
because I have been remarkably and wondrously made. T,U
Your works are wondrous,
and I know this very well. r
15 My bones were not hidden from you
when I was made in secret,
when I was formed in the depths of the earth. s
16 Your eyes saw me when I was formless;
all my days were written in your book and planned
before a single one of them began. t
17 God, how precious V your thoughts are to me;
how vast their sum is!
they would outnumber the grains of sand; u
when I wake up, W I am still with you. v
19 God, if only you would kill the wicked—
you bloodthirsty men, stay away from me w—
20 who invoke you deceitfully.
Your enemies swear by you falsely. x
21 LORD, don’t I hate those who hate you,
and detest those who rebel against you?
22 I hate them with extreme hatred;
I consider them my enemies. y
23 Search me, God, and know my heart;
test me and know my concerns. z
24 See if there is any offensive X way in me;
lead me in the everlasting way. a