WINGS OF THE MORNING

Photo provided by Sid Michael Gray

O LORD, thou hast searched me, 

and known me.  Thou knowest 

my downsitting and mine uprising, 

thou understandest my thought afar 

off.  Thou compassest my path and 

my lying down, and art acquainted 

with all my ways. For there is not a 

word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, 

thou knowest it altogether.  Thou hast 

beset me behind and before, and laid 

thine hand upon me.  Such knowledge 

is too wonderful for me; it is high, I 

cannot attain unto it. Whither shall I 

go from thy spirit? or whither shall 

I flee from thy presence?  If I ascend 

up into heaven, thou art there: if I make 

my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.  If 

I take the wings of the morning, and dwell 

in the uttermost parts of the sea;  Even there 

shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand 

shall hold me.  If I say, Surely the darkness 

shall cover me; even the night shall be 

light about me.  Yea, the darkness hideth 

not from thee; but the night shineth as the 

day: the darkness and the light are both 

alike to thee.  For thou hast possessed 

my reins: thou hast covered me in my  

mother’s womb.  I will praise thee; 

for I am fearfully and wonderfully  

made: marvellous are thy works; 

and that my soul knoweth right well.

My substance was not hid from thee, 

when I was made in secret, and 

curiously wrought in the lowest parts 

of the earth.  Thine eyes did see my 

substance, yet being unperfect; 

and in thy book all my members 

were written, which in continuance 

were fashioned, when as yet there 

was none of them.  How precious 

also are thy thoughts unto me, O 

God! how great is the sum of them!

If I should count them, they are 

more in number than the sand: 

when I awake, I am still with thee.

Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, 

O God: depart from me therefore, 

ye bloody men.  For they speak 

against thee wickedly, and thine 

enemies take thy name in vain.

Do not I hate them, O LORD, 

that hate thee? and am not I 

grieved with those that rise up 

against thee?  I hate them with 

perfect hatred: I count them mine 

enemies.  Search me, O God, 

and know my heart: try me, 

and know my thoughts:  And see 

if there be any wicked way in me, 

and lead me in the way everlasting.

Psalm 139