Psalm CXXXIX

O Lord, thou hast me search'd and known:

Thou know'st my [daily] sitting down,
And mine uprising: All my thoughts,
[Even a-] far off to thee are known.

Thou fift'st and compassest my path,
[And] seest [me] when down I lye;
And art with all my works and ways
[Always] acquainted perfectly.

No word is in my tongue, O Lord,
But it is [fully] known to thee;

Thou hast beset me round about,
And [thou hast] laid thy hand on me.

This knowledge high's above my reach,
[It is] too wonderful for me:

Whither shall I go from thy face?
Or [whither] from thy spirit flee?

If into heav'n I could ascend,
Yet [surely] thou art present there;
Or if in hell I make my bed,
Or [in the] grave, there thou art near.

If on the morning's wings I fled,
[And d'well] the utmost Seas beyond;

There by thy hand I shall be led,
And [safely] held by thy right hand.

Or if I say, The darkness sure
Shall hide me from thy [piercing] sight;
The darkness, even the most obscure,
About me shall be [as the] light.

Yea, darkness hideth not from thee,
But night doth shine as [bright as] day;
To thee the darkness and the light
[Indeed] are both alike alway.

For thou possessed hast my reins,
And thou didst form and cover me,
When I within my mother's womb
Enclosed was [and shap'd] by thee.

I'le praise the Lord, for fearfully
And strangely made [by thee] I am;
Thy works are all unsearchable,
My soul [convinc'd] doth know the same.

My substance was not hid from thee,
Though [formed] in a secret place;
In the low sordid earthly parts,
[By thee] I wisely fashion'd was.

Thine eyes my unshap'd substance saw,
My parts were [written] in thy book;
And in continuance formed were,
When none [as yet] had fashion took.

How precious also are the thoughts
Of thee, O [gracious] God, to me!
How great their sum? more than the sand

In number [they if] counted be.
I when I wake am still with thee;

[Surely] thou wilt the wicked slay,
O God! Therefore to men of blood,
Depart [ye far] from me, I'le say.

For they against thee wickedly
[Do] speak with [much] prophane disdain;
Thy enemies blasphemously
Do take thy [holy] Name in vain.

Do I not hate them all, O Lord,
Who are thy [hating] enemies?
And am not I grived with those
That [madly] up against thee rise?

I hate them with a perfect hate,
I count them for my [chiefest] foes:

Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me [and] my [hid] thoughts disclose.

And see if any hurtful way
Of [wilful] sin be found in me;
And in thy everlasting way
Let me [always] be led by thee.