139
To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.
1 O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me.
2 Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.
3 Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.* compassest: or, winnowest
4 For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.
5 Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.
7 Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?
8 If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.
9 If I take the wings of the morning, 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 be light about me.
12 Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.† hideth…: Heb. darkeneth not‡ the darkness and…: Heb. as is the darkness, so is the light
13 For thou hast possessed my reins: 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 knoweth right well.§ right…: Heb. greatly
15 My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.** substance: or, strength, or, body
16 Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.†† all…: Heb. all of them‡‡ which…: or, what days they should be fashioned
17 How precious also 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 bloody men.
20 For they speak against thee wickedly, and thine enemies take thy name in vain.
21 Do not I hate them, 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 everlasting.§§ wicked…: Heb. way of pain, or, grief
*139.3 compassest: or, winnowest
†139.12 hideth…: Heb. darkeneth not
‡139.12 the darkness and…: Heb. as is the darkness, so is the light
§139.14 right…: Heb. greatly
**139.15 substance: or, strength, or, body
††139.16 all…: Heb. all of them
‡‡139.16 which…: or, what days they should be fashioned
§§139.24 wicked…: Heb. way of pain, or, grief
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