Psalm 139
Chant Psalter
Natural Speech Rhythm
DOMINE, PROBASTI.
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 art about my path, and a- | bout my | bed ||
and | spiest • out | all my | ways. ||
3 For lo, there is not a | word • in my | tongue ||
but thou, O Lord, | 3 knowest it | alto- | gether. ||
4 Thou hast fashioned 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. ||
6 Whither shall I | go then • from thy | Spirit? ||
or | whither • shall I | go then • 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 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. ||
10 If I say, Peradventure the | 3 darkness shall | cover • me ||
3 then | shall my | night be • turned to | day. ||
2nd half
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 For my | reins are | thine ||
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 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 • un- | perfect, ||
and in thy book were all my | members | written; ||
16 Which day by day were fashioned, | when as | yet • there was | none of • them. ||
17 How dear are thy counsels unto | me, O | God ||
O how | great | is the | sum of • them! ||
18 If I tell them, they are more in | number • than the | sand ||
when I wake | up • I am | 3 present with | thee. ||
19 Wilt thou not slay the | wicked, • O | God? ||
de- | part from • me, ye | blood•thirsty | men. ||
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 a- | gainst thee? ||
22 Yea, I | hate them • right | sore ||
even as | though they | were mine | ene•mies. ||
23 Try me, O God, and seek the | 3 ground of my | heart ||
prove me, | and ex- | 3 amine my | thoughts. ||
24 Look well if there be any way of | wicked•ness | in me ||
and | lead me • in the | way • ever- | lasting. ||
Glory | be • to the | Father, ||
and to the Son, | and • to the | Holy | Ghost; ||
As it | was in • the be- | ginning, ||
is now, and ever shall be, * | world with•out | end. A- | men. ||
