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.j

2 You know when I sit down and when I stand up;

you understand my thoughts from far away.k

3 You observe my travels and my rest;

you are aware of all my ways.l

4 Before a word is on my tongue,

you know all about it, Lord.m

5 You have encircled me;

you have placed your hand on me.n

6 This wondrous knowledge is beyond me.

It is lofty; I am unable to reach it.o

7 Where can I go to escape your Spirit?

Where can I flee from your presence?p

8 If I go up to heaven, you are there;q

if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there.r

9 If I live at the eastern horizon

or settle at the western limits,D

10 even there your hand will lead me;

your right hand will hold on to me.s

11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me,

and the light around me will be night”t—

12 even the darkness is not dark to you.

The night shines like the day;

darkness and light are alike to you.u

13 For it was you who created my inward parts;E

you knit me together in my mother’s womb.v

14 I will praise you

because I have been remarkably and wondrously made.F,B

Your works are wondrous,

and I know this very well.w

15 My bones were not hidden from you

when I was made in secret,

when I was formed in the depths of the earth.x

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.y

17 God, how preciousG your thoughts are to me;

how vast their sum is!

18 If I counted them,

they would outnumber the grains of sand;z

when I wake up,H I am still with you.aa

19 God, if only you would kill the wicked—

you bloodthirsty men, stay away from meab—

20 who invoke you deceitfully.

Your enemies swear by you falsely.ac

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.ad

23 Search me, God, and know my heart;

test me and know my concerns.a

24 See if there is any offensiveA way in me;

lead me in the everlasting way.b