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(A psalm by David for the music leader.)

The Lord Is Always Near

You have looked deep
into my heart, Lord,
    and you know all about me.
You know when I am resting
    or when I am working,
and from heaven
    you discover my thoughts.

You notice everything I do
    and everywhere I go.
Before I even speak a word,
    you know what I will say,
and with your powerful arm
you protect me
    from every side.
I can't understand all of this!
Such wonderful knowledge
    is far above me.

Where could I go to escape
from your Spirit
    or from your sight?
If I were to climb up
to the highest heavens,
    you would be there.
If I were to dig down
to the world of the dead
    you would also be there.

Suppose I had wings
like the dawning day
    and flew across the ocean.
10 Even then your powerful arm
    would guide and protect me.
11 Or suppose I said, “I'll hide
in the dark until night comes
    to cover me over.”
12 But you see in the dark
because daylight and dark
    are all the same to you.

13 You are the one
who put me together
    inside my mother's body,
14 and I praise you because of
the wonderful way
    you created me.
Everything you do is marvelous!
    Of this I have no doubt.

15 Nothing about me
    is hidden from you!
I was secretly woven together
    out of human sight,
16 but with your own eyes you saw
    my body being formed.
Even before I was born,
you had written in your book
    everything about me.

17 (A) Your thoughts are far beyond
    my understanding,
much more than I
    could ever imagine.
18 I try to count your thoughts,
but they outnumber the grains
    of sand on the beach.
And when I awake,
    I will find you nearby.

19 How I wish that you would kill
all cruel and heartless people
    and protect me from them!
20 They are always rebelling
    and speaking evil of you.[a]
21 You know I hate anyone
who hates you, Lord,
    and refuses to obey.
22 They are my enemies too,
    and I truly hate them.

23 Look deep into my heart, God,
and find out everything
    I am thinking.
24 Don't let me follow evil ways,
but lead me in the way
    that time has proven true.

(A psalm by David for the music leader.)

A Prayer for the Lord's Help

Rescue me from cruel
    and violent enemies, Lord!
They think up evil plans
    and always cause trouble.
(B) Their words bite deep
like the poisonous fangs
    of a snake.

Protect me, Lord, from cruel
and brutal enemies,
    who want to destroy me.
Those proud people have hidden
traps and nets
    to catch me as I walk.

You, Lord, are my God!
    Please listen to my prayer.
You have the power to save me,
and you keep me safe
    in every battle.

Don't let the wicked succeed
    in doing what they want,
or else they might never
    stop planning evil.
They have me surrounded,
but make them the victims
    of their own vicious lies.[b]
10 Dump flaming coals on them
and throw them into pits
    where they can't climb out.
11 Chase those cruel liars away!
    Let trouble hunt them down.

12 Our Lord, I know that you
    defend the homeless
and see that the poor
    are given justice.
13 Your people will praise you
and will live with you
    because they do right.

(A psalm by David.)

A Prayer for the Lord's Protection

I pray to you, Lord!
Please listen when I pray
    and hurry to help me.
(C) Think of my prayer
    as sweet-smelling incense,
and think of my lifted hands
    as an evening sacrifice.

Help me to guard my words
    whenever I say something.
Don't let me want to do evil
or waste my time doing wrong
    with wicked people.
Don't let me even taste
    the good things they offer.

Let your faithful people
    correct and punish me.
My prayers condemn the deeds
    of those who do wrong,
so don't let me be friends
    with any of them.
Everyone will admit
    that I was right
when their rulers are thrown
    down a rocky cliff,
and their bones lie scattered
like crushed rocks
    on top of a grave.[c]

You are my Lord and God,
and I look to you for safety.
    Don't let me be harmed.
Protect me from the traps
    of those violent people,
10 and make them fall
into their own traps
    while you help me escape.

Footnotes

  1. 139.20 you: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verse 20.
  2. 140.8,9 or else … lies: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
  3. 141.5-7 Let … grave: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verses 5-7.

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