Psalm 139 — O Lord Thou Hast Me Searched and Known

O Lord, thou hast me searched and known.

Thou know'st my sitting down,

And mine uprising; thou my thoughts

Afar off dost discern.

My path and lying down thou search'st,

With all my ways thou art

Acquainted. For there is no word

Upon my tongue, but, Lord,

All is to thee well known. Behind,

Before, thou hast beset

And hemmed me in, and on me laid

Thine hand, from which I flee.

Such knowledge is too strange for me,

Too high to understand.

Where shall I from thy Spirit go?

Or whither from thy hand?

If I ascend to heaven, thou art;

If make in hell my bed,

Lo, thou art there. If I the wings

Of morning's light should spread,

And dwell in utmost parts of sea;

Ev'n there, Lord, shall thy hand

Still lead me, and thy right hand still

Shall hold me up from harm.

For thou possessed hast my reins,

And thou hast covered me,

When I within my mother's womb

Enclosed was by thee.

Thee will I praise; for fearfully

And strangely I am made:

Thy works are marvellous, and right well

My soul doth know the same.

Search me, O God, and know my heart;

Try me, my thoughts to find:

And see if any wicked way

Be found in me; and guide

Me in the way that leads to life

Eternal, evermore.

O lead me in thy righteous path,

My God, whom I adore.