THE *BOOK OF
PSALMS.
Psalm 139 ©
David praises and magnifies God’s all-knowing and omnipresent Providence, and the tender care for him, before he had any being in the world. He declares moreover that he will have no communion with evil and wicked men; and lastly, testifies his uprightness.
To the 1chief Musician, A Psalm of David.
O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me.
2Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, 3thou understandest my thought afar off.
Thou 4compassest my path and my lying down, and art 5acquainted with all my ways.
6For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.
Thou hast beset me behind and before, and 7laid thine hand upon me.
Such 8knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, 9I cannot attain unto it.
10Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?
Ifa I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed 11in hell, behold, thou art there.
If I take the 12wings of the morning, and dwell 13in the uttermost parts of the sea;
14Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall 15hold me.
If I say, Surely the darkness shall 16cover me; even the night 17shall be light about me.
Yea, the darkness 18hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: 19the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.
For 20thou hast possessed my 21reins: thou hast 22covered me in my mother's womb.
I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: 23marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.
Myb substance was not hid from thee, whenc I was made in secret, and 24curiously wrought in the 25lowest parts of the earth.
Thine eyes did see 26my substance, yet being unperfect;d and in thy book 27all my members 28were written, which in continuance were fashioned, 29when as yet there was none of them.
30How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the 31sum of them!
If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: 32when I awake, I am still with thee.
Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: depart from me therefore, 33ye bloody men.
For they speak 34against thee 35wickedly, and 36thine enemies take thy name in vain.
Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I 37grieved with those that rise up against thee?
I hate them 38with perfect hatred: I count them 39mine enemies.
Searche me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
And see if there be any 40wicked way in me, and lead me 41in the way everlasting.