Psalm 139

God’s Perfect Knowledge of Man

For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

1 O Lord, aYou have searched me and known me.

2 bYou know my sitting down and my rising up;

You cunderstand my thought afar off.

3 dYou 1comprehend my path and my lying down,

And are acquainted with all my ways.

4 For there is not a word on my tongue,

But behold, O Lord, eYou know it altogether.

5 You have 2hedged me behind and before,

And laid Your hand upon me.

6 fSuch knowledge is too wonderful for me;

It is high, I cannot attain it.

7 gWhere can I go from Your Spirit?

Or where can I flee from Your presence?

8 hIf I ascend into heaven, You are there;

iIf I make my bed in 3hell, behold, You are there.

9 If I take the wings of the morning,

And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,

10 Even there Your hand shall lead me,

And Your right hand shall hold me.

11 If I say, “Surely the darkness shall 4fall on me,”

Even the night shall be light about me;

12 Indeed, jthe darkness 5shall not hide from You,

But the night shines as the day;

The darkness and the light are both alike to You.

13 For You formed my inward parts;

You 6covered me in my mother’s womb.

14 I will praise You, for 7I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

Marvelous are Your works,

And that my soul knows very well.

15 kMy 8frame was not hidden from You,

When I was made in secret,

And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.

16 Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.

And in Your book they all were written,

The days fashioned for me,

When as yet there were none of them.

17 lHow precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!

How great is the sum of them!

18 If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand;

When I awake, I am still with You.

19 Oh, that You would mslay the wicked, O God!

nDepart from me, therefore, you 9bloodthirsty men.

20 For they ospeak against You wickedly;

1Your enemies take Your name in vain.

21 pDo I not hate them, O Lord, who hate You?

And do I not loathe those who rise up against You?

22 I hate them with 2perfect hatred;

I count them my enemies.

23 qSearch me, O God, and know my heart;

Try me, and know my anxieties;

24 And see if there is any wicked way in me,

And rlead me in the way everlasting.