Psalm 139 (Holman Christian Standard)

One verse per line

The All-Knowing, Ever-Present God

For the choir director. A Davidic psalm.

1 Lord, You have searched me and known me. 2 You know when I sit down and when I stand up; You understand my thoughts from far away. 3 You observe my travels and my rest; You are aware of all my ways. 4 Before a word is on my tongue, You know all about it, Lord. 5 You have encircled me; You have placed Your hand on me. 6 [This] extraordinary knowledge is beyond me. It is lofty; I am unable to [reach] it. 7 Where can I go to escape Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence? 8 If I go up to heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in Sheol,^a You are there. 9 If I live at the eastern horizon [or] settle at the western limits,^b 10 even there Your hand will lead me; Your right hand will hold on to me. 11 If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me, and the light around me will become night"- 12 even the darkness is not dark to You. The night shines like the day; darkness and light are alike to You. 13 For it was You who created my inward parts;^c You knit me together in my mother's womb. 14 I will praise You, because I have been remarkably and wonderfully made.^d^e Your works are wonderful, and I know [this] very well. 15 My bones were not hidden from You when I was made in secret, when I was formed in the depths of the earth. 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.^f 17 God, how difficult^g Your thoughts are for me [to comprehend]; how vast their sum is! 18 If I counted them, they would outnumber the grains of sand; when I wake up,^h I am still with You. 19 God, if only You would kill the wicked- you bloodthirsty men, stay away from me- 20 who invoke You deceitfully. Your enemies swear [by You] falsely. 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. 23 Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my concerns. 24 See if there is any offensiveⁱ way in me; lead me in the everlasting way.

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