Psalm 139

The All-Knowing, Ever-Present God

For the choir director. A psalm of David.

Lord, you have searched me and known me.a

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

you understand my thoughts from far away.a

3You observe my travels and my rest;

you are aware of all my ways.a

4Before a word is on my tongue,

you know all about it, Lord.a

5You have encircled me;

you have placed your hand on me.a

6This wondrous knowledge is beyond me.

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

7Where can I go to escape your Spirit?

Where can I flee from your presence?a

8If I go up to heaven, you are there;a

if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there.b

9If I fly on the wings of the dawn

and settle down on the western horizon,A

10even there your hand will lead me;

your right hand will hold on to me.a

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

and the light around me will be night”a —

12even the darkness is not dark to you.

The night shines like the day;

darkness and light are alike to you.a

13For it was you who created my inward parts;A

you knit me together in my mother’s womb.a

14I will praise you

because I have been remarkably and wondrously made.a B

Your works are wondrous,

and I know this very well.a

15My bones were not hidden from you

when I was made in secret,

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

16Your eyes saw me when I was formless;

all my days were written in your book and planned

before a single one of them began.a

17God, how preciousA your thoughts are to me;

how vast their sum is!

18If I counted them,

they would outnumber the grains of sand;a

when I wake up,A I am still with you.b

19God, if only you would kill the wicked —

you bloodthirsty men, stay away from mea —

20who invoke you deceitfully.

Your enemies swear by you falsely.a

21Lord, don’t I hate those who hate you,

and detest those who rebel against you?

22I hate them with extreme hatred;

I consider them my enemies.a

23Search me, God, and know my heart;

test me and know my concerns.a

24See if there is any offensiveA way in me;

lead me in the everlasting way.a