8 The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thy own hands.
PSALM 139.
To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.
O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me .
2 Thou knowest my downsitting and my uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.
3 Thou dost scrutinize my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. [1]
4 For there is not a word on my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.
5 Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thy hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain to it.
7 Where shall I go from thy spirit? or where shall I flee from thy presence?
8 If I ascend into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there .
9 If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;
10 Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.
11 If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.
12 Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee . [2] [3]
13 For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb.
14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul well knoweth [4]
15 My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and skilfully formed in the lowest parts of the earth. [5]
16 Thy eyes saw my substance, not yet formed; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them. [6] [7]
17 How precious also are thy thoughts to me, O God! how great is the sum of them!
18 If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.
19 Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: depart from me therefore, ye bloody men.
20 For they speak against thee wickedly, and thy enemies take thy name in vain.
21 Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?
22 I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them my enemies.
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
24 And see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. [8]
PSALM 140.
To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.
Deliver me, O LORD, from the evil man: preserve me from the violent man; [9]
2 Who imagine mischiefs in their heart; continually are they gathered together for war.
3 They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent; adders’ poison is under their lips. Selah.
4 Keep me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from the violent man; who have purposed to overthrow my goings.
5 The proud have hid a trap for me, and cords; they have spread a net by the way side; they have set snares for me. Selah.
6 I said to the LORD, Thou art my God: hear the voice of my supplications, O LORD.
7 O GOD the Lord, the strength of my salvation, thou hast covered my head in the day of battle.
8 Grant not, O LORD, the desires of the wicked: further not his wicked device; lest they exalt themselves. Selah. [10]
9 As for the head of those that surroundeth me, let the mischief of their own lips cover them.
10 Let burning coals fall upon them: let them be cast into the fire; into deep pits, that they rise not again.
11 Let not an evil speaker be established on the earth: evil shall hunt the violent man to overthrow him . [11]
12 I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and the right of the poor.
13 Surely the righteous shall give thanks to thy name: the upright shall dwell in thy presence.
PSALM 141.
A Psalm of David.
LORD, I cry to thee: make haste to me; give ear to my voice, when I cry to thee.
2 Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. [12]
3 Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.
4 Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to practise wicked works with men that work iniquity: and let me not eat of their dainties.
- ↑ compassest: or, winnowest
- ↑ hideth...: Heb. darkeneth not
- ↑ the darkness and...: Heb. as is the darkness, so is the light
- ↑ right...: Heb. greatly
- ↑ substance: or, strength, or, body
- ↑ all...: Heb. all of them
- ↑ which...: or, what days they should be fashioned
- ↑ wicked...: Heb. way of pain, or, grief
- ↑ violent...: Heb. man of violences
- ↑ lest...: or, let them not be exalted
- ↑ an...: or, an evil speaker (Heb. a man of tongue), a wicked man of violence, be established in the earth: let him be hunted to his overthrow
- ↑ set...: Heb. directed
