Psalms 139

The All-Knowing, Ever-Present God

1Lord, you have searched me and known me.

2You know when I sit down and when I stand up; you understand my thoughts from far away.

3You observe my travels and my rest; you are aware of all my ways.

4Before a word is on my tongue, you know all about it, Lord.

5You have encircled me; you have placed your hand on me.

6This wondrous knowledge is beyond me. It is lofty; I am unable to reach it.

7Where can I go to escape your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?

8If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there.

9If I fly on the wings of the dawn and settle down on the western horizon,

10even there your hand will lead me; your right hand will hold on to me.

11If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me, and the light around me will be night”  —

12even the darkness is not dark to you. The night shines like the day; darkness and light are alike to you.

13For it was you who created my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.

14I will praise you because I have been remarkably and wondrously made. Your works are wondrous, and I know this very well.

15My bones were not hidden from you when I was made in secret, when I was formed in the depths of the earth.

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.

17God, how precious your thoughts are to me; how vast their sum is!

18If I counted them, they would outnumber the grains of sand; when I wake up, I am still with you.

19God, if only you would kill the wicked — you bloodthirsty men, stay away from me  —

20who invoke you deceitfully. Your enemies swear by you falsely.

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.

23Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my concerns.

24See if there is any offensive way in me; lead me in the everlasting way.