Text:To the chief Musicain, A Psalm of David

PCXXXIX. To the chief Musicain, A Psalm of David

1 O Lord, thou dost me search and know,
Thou know'st my sitting down,
2 My rising up, my thought also
To thee far off is known.
3 Thou fann'st my path and lying down,
And all my ways kmow'st well.
4 For !o each word that's in my tongue,
Lord, thou can'st fully tell.

5 Behind thou gird'st me, and before,
On me dost lay thine hand
6 Such high and wond'rous skill is more
Than I can comprehend.
7 Where shall I from thy spirit go?
Or from thy face where fiy?
8 If heav'n I climb thou there? lo thou
If down in hell I lie.

9 If morning wings I take, and dwell
Where utmost sea-coasts be.
10 Ev'n there thy hand conduct me shall,
And thy right hand hold me.

11 Yea darkness sure shall cover me,
If that I thus shall say:
Then shall the night about me be
Like to the lightsome day.

12 Yea darkness darkneth not from thee,
But like the day shines night:
Alike unto thee both these be,
The darkness and the light.

[2]

13 For thou my reins possessed hast,
And also cover'd me,
Within my mother's womb thou hast.
14 My praise shall be of thee;
Because that 1 am fashion'd thus
In fearful wond'rous wise;
And that thy works are marvellous,
My soul right well descries.

15 From thee my substance was not hid,
When closely made was I;
And when that I was fashioned
In earth's deeps curiously.
16 Thine eyes did on my substance look,
When yet I wanted frame:
And all my members in thy book
Were written down by name.

Which day by day should fashion'd be,
When none of them were come.
17 How precious are thy thoughts to me,
God! how great's their sum?
18 If I of them account should take,
More than the sands they be.
And still when that I do awake,
I present am with thee.

[3]

19 O God, thou surely wilt them slay
That wicked persons be;
Depart therefore from hence away,
Ye men of blood, from me.
20 Because that they against thee do
Speak in mischievous wise.
Thy name in vain they take also,
Who are thine enemies.

21 Jehovah, hate I not the men
That thee do hate? likewise
Am I not sore aggriev'd with them
That up against thee rise?
22 With perfect hate them hate do I,
I take them for my foes.
23 Search me, O God, my heart descry,
Try me, my thoughts disclose.

24 Behold in me if fhat there be
Ev'n any wicked way;
And in the way conduct thou me
That doth endure for aye.

Text Information
First Line: O Lord, thou dost me search and know
Title: To the chief Musicain, A Psalm of David
Language: English
Publication Date: 1742
Scripture:
Tune Information
(No tune information)



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