Psalms

The Psalter is Israel’s hymnbook: lament, praise, thanksgiving, royal psalms, and wisdom. It trains the heart to speak to God in trouble and in joy, and it points ahead to the Messiah.

Author: David and others
Date: c. 1400–400 BC
Theme: Prayers and songs for every season of the life of faith.
Key verses: Psalm 23; Psalm 51; Psalm 119:105
Darby Translation

Psalms 139

1To the chief Musician. A Psalm of David. Jehovah, thou hast searched me, and known [me]. 2Thou knowest my down-sitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off; 3Thou searchest out my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways; 4For there is not yet a word on my tongue, [but] lo, O Jehovah, thou knowest it altogether. 5Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thy hand upon me. 6O knowledge too wonderful for me! it is high, I cannot [attain] unto it. 7Whither shall I go from thy Spirit? and whither flee from thy presence? 8If I ascend up into the heavens thou art there; or if I make my bed in Sheol, behold, thou [art there]; 9[If] I take the wings of the dawn [and] dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, 10Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. 11And if I say, Surely darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night; 12Even darkness hideth not from thee, and the night shineth as the day: the darkness is as the light. 13For thou hast possessed my reins; thou didst cover me in my mother's womb. 14I will praise thee, for I am fearfully, wonderfully made. Marvellous are thy works; and [that] my soul knoweth right well. 15My bones were not hidden from thee when I was made in secret, curiously wrought in the lower parts of the earth. 16Thine eyes did see my unformed substance, and in thy book all [my members] were written; [during many] days were they fashioned, when [as yet] there was none of them. 17But how precious are thy thoughts unto me, OGod! how great is the sum of them! 18[If] I would count them, they are more in number than the sand. When I awake, I am still with thee. 19Oh that thou wouldest slay the wicked, OGod! And ye men of blood, depart from me. 20For they speak of thee wickedly, they take [thy name] in vain, thine enemies. 21Do not I hate them, O Jehovah, that hate thee? and do not I loathe them that rise up against thee? 22I hate them with perfect hatred; I account them mine enemies. 23Search me, OGod, and know my heart; prove me, and know my thoughts; 24And see if there be any grievous way in me; and lead me in the way everlasting.

John Nelson Darby Translation (1890). Public domain or openly redistributable. Confirm the exact edition before public display if text is later imported.