Nowhere Beyond His Reach
For the director of music. A psalm of David.
139 1 You have searched me, my Father, and you know me. 2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from far away. 3 You search out my path and my rest, and you are familiar with all my ways. 4 Even before a word is on my tongue, you know it completely, my Father. 5 You hem me in, behind and before, and you place your hand on me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is too high, I cannot reach it.
7 Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? 8 If I ascend to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the grave, you are there. 9 If I ride the wings of the dawn and settle at the far side of the sea, 10 even there your hand will lead me, and your right hand will hold me fast. 11 If I say, "Surely the darkness will cover me, and the light around me will become night," 12 even the darkness is not dark to you; the night shines like the day, for darkness is as light to you.
13 For you formed my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. a a v13 Each person is personally formed and known by our Father from the womb — there are no accidental lives. 14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; wonderful are your works, and my soul knows it very well. 15 My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. 16 Your eyes saw my unformed body; all my days were written in your book and ordained for me, before one of them came to be. 17 How precious to me are your thoughts, my Father! How vast their number! 18 If I could count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. When I awake, I am still with you.
19 If only you would slay the wicked, my Father! Away from me, you who thirst for blood! 20 They speak of you with evil intent; your enemies take up your name in vain. 21 Do I not hate those who hate you, my Father? Do I not loathe those who rise up against you? 22 I hate them with complete hatred; I count them my enemies.
23 Search me, my Father, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. 24 and see if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way.