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