Psalm 139

To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.

1O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me.

2Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.

3Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.footnote a

4For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.

5Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.

6Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.

7Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?

8If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.

9If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;

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

11If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.

12Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.footnote bfootnote c

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

14I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.footnote d

15My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.footnote e

16Thine 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.footnote ffootnote g

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

24And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.footnote h

You Have Searched Me and Known Me

For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

1O LORD, You have searched meand known me. 2You know when I sit and when I rise;You understand my thoughts from afar. 3You search out my path and my lying down;You are aware of all my ways. 4Even before a word is on my tongue,You know all about it, O LORD. 5You hem me in behind and before;You have laid Your hand upon me. 6Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,too lofty for me to attain.

7Where can I go to escape Your Spirit?Where can I flee from Your presence? 8If I ascend to the heavens, You are there;if I make my bed in Sheol, You are there. 9If I rise on the wings of the dawn,if I settle by the farthest sea, 10even there Your hand will guide me;Your right hand will hold me fast. 11If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me,and the light become night around me”— 12even the darkness is not dark to You,but the night shines like the day,for darkness is as light to You.

13For You formed my inmost being;footnote aYou knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14I praise You,for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.Marvelous are Your works,and I know this very well. 15My frame was not hidden from Youwhen I was made in secret,when I was woven togetherin the depths of the earth. 16Your eyes saw my unformed body;all my days were written in Your bookand ordained for mebefore one of them came to be.

17How precious to me are Your thoughts,footnote bO God,how vast is their sum! 18If I were to count them,they would outnumber the grains of sand;and when I awake,I am still with You.

19O God, that You would slay the wicked—away from me, you bloodthirsty men— 20who speak of You deceitfully;Your enemies take Your name in vain.footnote c 21Do I not hate those who hate You, O LORD,and detest those who rise against You? 22I hate them with perfect hatred;I count them as my enemies.

23Search me, O God, and know my heart;test me and know my concerns. 24See if there is any offensive way in me;lead me in the way everlasting.