Psalm 139
1 O Lord, thou hast searched me, and known me.
1 O Lord, thou hast searched me | out, and | known me. ||
Thou knowest my down-sitting, and mine up-rising; * thou under- | 3 standest my | thoughts • long be- | fore. ||
2 Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.
2 Thou art about my path, and a- | bout my | bed; ||
and art ac- | quainted • with | all my | ways. ||
3 Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.
3 For lo, there is not a | word • in my | tongue, ||
but thou, O Lord, | 3 knowest it | alto- | gether. ||
4 For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether.
4 Thou hast beset me behind and before, and | laid thine | hand up•on me. ||
5 Such knowledge is too wonderful and excellent 3 for | me; I | 3 cannot at- | tain un•to it. ||
5 Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.
6 Whither shall I | go then • from thy | Spirit? ||
or | whither • shall I | go then • from thy | presence? ||
7 Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?
7 If I climb up into | heaven, • thou art | there; ||
if I go down to | hell, • thou art | there | also. ||
8 If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.
8 If I take the wings of the morning, * and remain in the uttermost | parts • of the | sea; ||
9 Even there also shall thy hand | lead me, • and thy | 3 right hand shall | hold me. ||
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.
10 If I say, Peradventure the | 3 darkness shall | cover • me; ||
3 then | shall my | night be • turned to | day. ||
11 If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.
11 Yea, the darkness is no darkness with thee, * but the night is as | clear • as the | day; ||
the darkness and | light to | thee are • both a- | like. ||
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.
12 For my | reins are | thine; ||
thou hast | covered me • in my | mother's | womb. ||
13 For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb.
13 I will give thanks unto thee, for I am fearfully and | wonder•fully | made: ||
marvellous are thy works, and that my | soul | knoweth • right | well. ||
14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.
14 My bones are not hid from thee, * though I be made secretly, and fashioned be- | neath • in the | earth. ||
15 Thine eyes did see my | 3 substance, yet | being • im- | perfect; ||
15 My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
and in thy book were all my | members | written; ||
16 Which day by day were fashioned, | when as | yet • there was | none of • them. ||
16 Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.
17 How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!
17 How dear are thy counsels unto | me, O | God; ||
O 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.
18 If I tell them, they are more in | number • than the | sand: ||
when I wake | up, • I am | 3 present with | thee. ||
19 Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: depart from me therefore, ye bloody men.
19 Wilt thou not slay the | wicked, • O | God? ||
De- | part from • me, ye | blood•thirsty | men. ||
20 For they speak against thee wickedly, and thine enemies take thy name in vain.
20 For they speak un- | righteous•ly a- | gainst thee; ||
and thine 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?
21 Do not I hate them, O | Lord, that • hate | thee? ||
and am not I grieved with | those that | rise • up a- | gainst thee? ||
22 I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies.
22 Yea, I | hate them • right | sore; ||
even as | though they | were mine | ene•mies. ||
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
23 Try me, O God, and seek the | 3 ground of my | heart; ||
prove me, | and ex- | 3 amine my | thoughts. ||
24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
24 Look well if there be any way of | wicked•ness | in me; ||
and | lead me • in the | way • ever- | lasting. ||
About the Pointing
The text of the Coverdale Psalter follows the 1928 American Book of Common Prayer. The pointing, suitably adapted, is taken from Charles Macpherson, Edward C. Bairstow, and Percy C. Buck, The English Psalter (Novello & Co., 1925).