Study Desk

For the director of music. Of David. A psalm.

You have searched me,^(a) Lord , and you know^(b) me.

You know when I sit and when I rise;^(c) you perceive my thoughts^(d) from afar.

You discern my going out^(e) and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.^(f)

Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord , know it completely.^(g)

You hem me in^(h) behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me.

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,⁽ⁱ⁾ too lofty^(j) for me to attain.

Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee^(k) from your presence?

If I go up to the heavens,^(l) you are there; if I make my bed^(m) in the depths, you are there.

If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea,

even there your hand will guide me,⁽ⁿ⁾ your right hand^(o) will hold me fast.

If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,"

even the darkness will not be dark^(p) to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.

For you created my inmost being;^(q) you knit me together^(r) in my mother's womb.^(s)

I praise you^(t) because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful,^(u) I know that full well.

My frame was not hidden from you when I was made^(v) in the secret place, when I was woven together^(w) in the depths of the earth.^(x)

Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained^(y) for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

How precious to me are your thoughts,^[a](z) God!^(aa) How vast is the sum of them!

Were I to count them,^(ab) they would outnumber the grains of sand^(ac)— when I awake,^(ad) I am still with you.

If only you, God, would slay the wicked!^(ae) Away from me,^(af) you who are bloodthirsty!^(ag)

They speak of you with evil intent; your adversaries^(ah) misuse your name.^(ai)

Do I not hate those^(aj) who hate you, Lord , and abhor^(ak) those who are in rebellion against you?

I have nothing but hatred for them; I count them my enemies.^(al)

Search me,^(am) God, and know my heart;^(an) test me and know my anxious thoughts.

See if there is any offensive way^(ao) in me, and lead me^(ap) in the way everlasting.

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

Rescue me,^(a) Lord , from evildoers; protect me from the violent,^(b)

who devise evil plans^(c) in their hearts and stir up war^(d) every day.

They make their tongues as sharp as^(e) a serpent's; the poison of vipers^(f) is on their lips.^[b]

Keep me safe,^(g) Lord , from the hands of the wicked;^(h) protect me from the violent, who devise ways to trip my feet.

The arrogant have hidden a snare⁽ⁱ⁾ for me; they have spread out the cords of their net^(j) and have set traps^(k) for me along my path.

I say to the Lord , "You are my God."^(l) Hear, Lord , my cry for mercy.^(m)

Sovereign Lord ,⁽ⁿ⁾ my strong deliverer, you shield my head in the day of battle.

Do not grant the wicked^(o) their desires, Lord ; do not let their plans succeed.

Those who surround me proudly rear their heads; may the mischief of their lips engulf them.^(p)

May burning coals fall on them; may they be thrown into the fire,^(q) into miry pits, never to rise.

May slanderers not be established in the land; may disaster hunt down the violent.^(r)

I know that the Lord secures justice for the poor^(s) and upholds the cause^(t) of the needy.^(u)

Surely the righteous will praise your name,^(v) and the upright will live^(w) in your presence.^(x)