Psalm 139

The All-Knowing, Ever-Present God

For the choir director. A Davidic psalm.

1 Lord, You have searched me and known me. w

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

You understand my thoughts from far away. x

3 You observe my travels and my rest;

You are aware of all my ways. y

4 Before a word is on my tongue,

You know all about it, Lord. z

5 You have encircled me;

You have placed Your hand on me. a

6 This extraordinary knowledge is beyond me.

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

7 Where can I go to escape Your Spirit?

Where can I flee from Your presence? c

8 If I go up to heaven, You are there; d

if I make my bed in * Sheol, You are there. e

9 If I live at the eastern horizon

or settle at the western limits, f

10 even there Your hand will lead me;

Your right hand will hold on to me. g

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

and the light around me will be night” h—

12 even the darkness is not dark to You.

The night shines like the day;

darkness and light are alike to You. i

13 For it was You who created my inward parts; j

You knit me together in my mother’s womb. k

14 I will praise You

because I have been remarkably and wonderfully made. l m

Your works are wonderful,

and I know this very well. n

15 My bones were not hidden from You

when I was made in secret,

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

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. p

17 God, how difficult q Your thoughts are

for me to comprehend;

how vast their sum is!

18 If I counted them,

they would outnumber the grains of sand; r

when I wake up, s I am still with You. t

19 God, if only You would kill the wicked—

you bloodthirsty men, stay away from me u—

20 who invoke You deceitfully.

Your enemies swear by You falsely. v

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. w

23 Search me, God, and know my heart;

test me and know my concerns. x

24 See if there is any offensive y way in me;

lead me in the everlasting way. z