Study Desk

For the choir director. A Davidic psalm.

Lord , You have searched me and known me.^(a)

You know when I sit down and when I stand up; You understand my thoughts from far away.^(b)

You observe my travels and my rest; You are aware of all my ways.^(c)

Before a word is on my tongue, You know all about it, Lord .^(d)

You have encircled me; You have placed Your hand on me.^(e)

This extraordinary knowledge is beyond me. It is lofty; I am unable to reach it.^(f)

Where can I go to escape Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence?^(g)

If I go up to heaven, You are there;^(h) if I make my bed in Sheol, You are there.⁽ⁱ⁾

If I live at the eastern horizon or settle at the western limits,^[a]

even there Your hand will lead me; Your right hand will hold on to me.^(j)

If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me, and the light around me will be night"^(k)—

even the darkness is not dark to You. The night shines like the day; darkness and light are alike to You.^(l)

For it was You who created my inward parts;^[b] You knit me together in my mother's womb.^(m)

I will praise You because I have been remarkably and wonderfully made.^[c][d] Your works are wonderful, and I know this very well.⁽ⁿ⁾

My bones were not hidden from You when I was made in secret, when I was formed in the depths of the earth.^(o)

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.^(p)

God, how difficult^[e] Your thoughts are for me to comprehend; how vast their sum is!

If I counted them, they would outnumber the grains of sand;^(q) when I wake up,^[f] I am still with You.^(r)

God, if only You would kill the wicked— you bloodthirsty men, stay away from me^(s)—

who invoke You deceitfully. Your enemies swear by You falsely.^(t)

Lord , don't I hate those who hate You, and detest those who rebel against You?

I hate them with extreme hatred; I consider them my enemies.^(u)

Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my concerns.^(v)

See if there is any offensive^[g] way in me; lead me in the everlasting way.^(w)

For the choir director. A Davidic psalm.

Rescue me, Lord , from evil men. Keep me safe from violent men^(a)

who plan evil in their hearts. They stir up wars all day long.^(b)

They make their tongues as sharp as a snake's bite; viper's venom is under their lips.^(c) Selah

Protect me, Lord , from the clutches of the wicked.^(d) Keep me safe from violent men who plan to make me stumble.^[a](e)

The proud hide a trap with ropes for me; they spread a net along the path and set snares for me.^(f) Selah

I say to the Lord , "You are my God." Listen, Lord , to my cry for help.^(g)

Lord God , my strong Savior, You shield my head on the day of battle.^(h)

Lord , do not grant the desires of the wicked; do not let them achieve their goals. Otherwise, they will become proud.⁽ⁱ⁾ Selah

When those who surround me rise up,^[b] may the trouble their lips cause overwhelm them.^(j)

Let hot coals fall on them. Let them be thrown into the fire, into the abyss, never again to rise.^(k)

Do not let a slanderer stay in the land. Let evil relentlessly^[c] hunt down a violent man.^(l)

I^[d] know that the Lord upholds the just cause of the poor, justice for the needy.^(m)

Surely the righteous will praise Your name; the upright will live in Your presence.⁽ⁿ⁾

A Davidic psalm.

Lord , I call on You; hurry to help me. Listen to my voice when I call on You.^(a)

May my prayer be set before You as incense,^(b) the raising of my hands as the evening offering.^(c)

Lord , set up a guard for my mouth; keep watch at the door of my lips.^(d)

Do not let my heart turn to any evil thing or perform wicked acts with men who commit sin. Do not let me feast on their delicacies.^(e)

Let the righteous one strike me— it is an act of faithful love; let him rebuke me— it is oil for my head; let me^[a] not refuse it.^(f) Even now my prayer is against the evil acts of the wicked.^[b](g)

When their rulers^[c] will be thrown off the sides of a cliff, the people^[d] will listen to my words, for they are pleasing.^(h)

As when one plows and breaks up the soil, turning up rocks, so our^[e] bones have been scattered at the mouth of Sheol.⁽ⁱ⁾

But my eyes look to You, Lord God . I seek refuge in You; do not let me die.^[f](j)

Protect me from^[g] the trap they have set for me, and from the snares of evildoers.^(k)

Let the wicked fall into their own nets, while I pass by safely.^(l)