Psalms, 138
God's special providence over his servants.
Domine, probasti.
[1] Unto the end, a psalm of David. Lord, thou hast proved me, and known me: •
[2] Thou hast known my sitting down, and my rising up. •
[3] Thou hast understood my thoughts afar off: my path and my line thou hast searched out. •
[4] And thou hast foreseen all my ways: for there is no speech 1 in my tongue. •
There is no speech: That is, unknown to thee: or when there is no speech in my tongue; yet my whole interior and my most secret thoughts are known to thee.
[5] Behold, O Lord, thou hast known all things, the last and those of old: thou hast formed me, and hast laid thy hand upon me. •
[6] Thy knowledge is become wonderful to me: it is high, and I cannot reach to it. •
[7] Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy face? •
[8] If I ascend into heaven, thou art there: if I descend into hell, thou art present. •
[9] If I take my wings early in the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea: •
[10] Even there also shall thy hand lead me: and thy right hand shall hold me.
[11] And I said: Perhaps darkness shall cover me: and night shall be my light in my pleasures. •
[12] But darkness shall not be dark to thee, and night shall be light all the day: the darkness thereof, and the light thereof are alike to thee. •
[13] For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast protected me from my mother's womb. •
[14] I will praise thee, for thou art fearfully magnified: wonderful are thy works, and my soul knoweth right well. •
[15] My bone is not hidden from thee, which thou hast made in secret: and my substance in the lower parts of the earth. •
[16] Thy eyes did see my imperfect being, and in thy book all shall be written: days shall be formed, and no one in them. •
[17] But to me thy friends, O God, are made exceedingly honourable: their principality is exceedingly strengthened. •
[18] I will number them, and they shall be multiplied above the sand, I rose up and am still with thee. •
[19] If thou wilt kill the wicked, O God: ye men of blood, depart from me: •
[20] Because you say in thought 1: They shall receive thy cities in vain. •
Because you say in thought: Depart from me, you wicked, who plot against the servants of God, and think to cast them out of the cities of their habitation; as if they have received them in vain, and to no purpose.
[21] Have I not hated them, O Lord, that hated thee: and pined away because of thy enemies? •
[22] I have hated them 1 with a perfect hatred: and they are become enemies to me. •
I have hated them: Not with an hatred of malice, but a zeal for the observance of God's commandments; which he saw were despised by the wicked, who are to be considered enemies to God.
[23] Prove me, O God, and know my heart: examine me, and know my paths. •
[24] And see if there be in me the way of iniquity: and lead me in the eternal way. •