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To the Overcomer, A Psalm of David.

¶ O LORD, thou hast searched me and known me.

Thou knowest my sitting down and my rising up, thou dost understand my thoughts from afar.

Thou hast girded my walk and my rest, and hast prepared all my ways.

For the word is not even upon my tongue, and, behold, O LORD, thou dost know it altogether.

Thou hast formed my face and my insides and laid thine hand upon me.

Thy knowledge is wonderful beyond my ability to comprehend; it is high, I cannot understand it.

¶ Where shall I go from thy spirit? or where shall I flee from thy presence?

If I ascend to the heavens, thou art there: if I make my bed in Sheol, behold, thou art there.

If I take the wings of the dawn and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,

10 even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.

11 If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall shine because of me.

12 Even the darkness does not hide from thee; but the night shines as the day; the darkness is as the light.

13 For thou hast possessed my kidneys: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb.

14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvellous are thy works, and that, my soul knows right well.

15 My body was not hid from thee, even though I was made in secret and brought together in the lowest parts of the earth.

16 Thine eyes did see my substance yet being imperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which were then formed, without lacking one of them.

17 ¶ Therefore, how precious are thy thoughts unto me, O God! How great is the sum of them!

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

19 Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God; depart from me therefore, ye bloodthirsty men.

20 For they speak against thee wickedly, and thine enemies take thy name in vain.

21 Do I not hate all those, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?

22 I hate them with perfect hatred; I count them mine enemies.

23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my thoughts

24 and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way eternal.

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