Psalms 139

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[1]David acknowledgeth God's all-seeing providence: [14]he praiseth him for the wonders of his formation; [17]and for his infinite mercies: [19]his confidence in the destruction of the wicked: [21]his professed hatred of them: [23]he prayeth for God's inspection and guidance.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

Metrical version

Psalm 139

C.M. St. Anne

O LORD, thou hast me searched and known.
Thou know'st my sitting down,
And rising up; yea, all my thoughts
afar to thee are known.

My footsteps, and my lying down,
thou compassest always;
Thou also most entirely art
acquaint with all my ways.

For in my tongue, before I speak,
not any word can be,
But altogether, lo, O LORD,
it is well known to thee.

Behind, before, thou hast beset,
and laid on me thine hand.
Such knowledge is too strange for me,
too high to understand.

From thy Spirit whither shall I go?
or from thy presence fly?
Ascend I heav'n, lo, thou art there;
there, if in hell I lie.

Take I the morning wings, and dwell
in utmost parts of sea;
Ev'n there, Lord, shall thy hand me lead,
thy right hand hold shall me.

If I do say that darkness shall
me cover from thy sight,
Then surely shall the very night
about me be as light.

Yea, darkness hideth not from thee,
but night doth shine as day:
To thee the darkness and the light
are both alike alway.

For thou possessed hast my reins,
and thou hast covered me,
When I within my mother's womb
inclosed was by thee.

Thee will I praise; for fearfully
and strangely made I am;
Thy works are marv'llous, and right well
my soul doth know the same.

My substance was not hid from thee,
when as in secret I
Was made; and in earth's lowest parts
was wrought most curiously.

Thine eyes my substance did behold,
yet being unperfect;
And in the volume of thy book
my members all were writ;

Which after in continuance
were fashioned ev'ry one,
When as they yet all shapeless were,
and of them there was none.

How precious also are thy thoughts,
O gracious God, to me!
And in their sum how passing great
and numberless they be!

If I should count them, than the sand
they more in number be:
What time soever I awake,
I ever am with thee.

Thou, Lord, wilt sure the wicked slay:
hence from me bloody men.
Thy foes against thee loudly speak,
and take thy name in vain.

Do not I hate all those, O LORD,
that hatred bear to thee?
With those that up against thee rise
can I but grieved be?

With perfect hatred them I hate,
my foes I them do hold.
Search me, O God, and know my heart,
try me, my thoughts unfold:

And see if any wicked way
there be at all in me;
And in thine everlasting way
to me a leader be.