< Psalms 139 >
1 To him that excelleth. A Psalme of David. O Lord, thou hast tried me and knowen me.
For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. LORD, thou hast searched me, and known [me].
2 Thou knowest my sitting and my rising: thou vnderstandest my thought afarre off.
Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.
3 Thou compassest my pathes, and my lying downe, and art accustomed to all my wayes.
Thou searchest out my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.
4 For there is not a word in my tongue, but loe, thou knowest it wholy, O Lord.
For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.
5 Thou holdest mee straite behinde and before, and layest thine hand vpon me.
Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.
6 Thy knowledge is too wonderfull for mee: it is so high that I cannot attaine vnto it.
[Such] knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.
7 Whither shall I goe from thy Spirite? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?
Whither shall I from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?
8 If I ascende into heauen, thou art there: if I lye downe in hell, thou art there. (Sheol )
If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in Sheol, behold, thou art there. (Sheol )
9 Let mee take the winges of the morning, and dwell in the vttermost parts of the sea:
If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;
10 Yet thither shall thine hand leade me, and thy right hand holde me.
Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.
11 If I say, Yet the darkenes shall hide me, euen the night shalbe light about me.
If I say, Surely the darkness shall overwhelm me, and the light about me shall be night;
12 Yea, the darkenes hideth not from thee: but the night shineth as the day: the darkenes and light are both alike.
Even 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 reines: thou hast couered me in my mothers wombe.
For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb.
14 I will praise thee, for I am fearefully and wonderously made: marueilous are thy workes, and my soule knoweth it well.
I will give thanks unto thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: wonderful are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.
15 My bones are not hid from thee, though I was made in a secret place, and facioned beneath in the earth.
My frame was not hidden from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
16 Thine eyes did see me, when I was without forme: for in thy booke were all things written, which in continuance were facioned, when there was none of them before.
Thine eyes did see mine unperfect substance, and in thy book were all [my members] written, which day by day were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.
17 Howe deare therefore are thy thoughtes vnto me, O God! how great is ye summe of them!
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 moe then the sand: when I wake, I am still with thee.
If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.
19 Oh that thou wouldest slay, O God, the wicked and bloody men, to whom I say, Depart ye from mee:
Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: depart from me therefore, ye bloodthirsty men.
20 Which speake wickedly of thee, and being thine enemies are lifted vp in vaine.
For they speak against thee wickedly, and thine enemies take [thy name] in vain.
21 Doe not I hate them, O Lord, that hate thee? and doe not I earnestly contend with those that rise vp against thee?
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 an vnfained hatred, as they were mine vtter enemies.
I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies.
23 Try mee, O God, and knowe mine heart: prooue me and know my thoughtes,
Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me and know my thoughts:
24 And consider if there be any way of wickednes in me, and leade me in the way for euer.
And see if there be any way of wickedness in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.