April 6, 2025
Psalm 139:1-17
You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.
Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely.
You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.
Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.
If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,”
even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me
were written in your book before one of them came to be.
How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them!
Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand—
when I awake, I am still with you.
O God, you knew me
before I was knit together
in my mother's womb.
Even there, you set me apart for your glory.
Though hidden away in the waters of the womb,
you brought me out to the light
to experience your goodness and mercy that endures forever.
Hallelujah!
You knew when I would take my first unsteady and wobbly steps.
You heard my cry, my unintelligible speech.
You heard my first words.
You knew when I would be mischievous and playful
and a delight to my parents.
Thank you for surrounding me on all sides.
What a gift: that you know
when we sit down and when we get up…
you know about our restless slumber.
Thank you for coming to lie down beside us
and laying your hands on us
so that we may sleep in peace.
If we climb to the heavens or descend to the deep,
you are there.
Thank you for the gift of your glorious presence
every day of our lives.
We rest in the assurance of your goodness!
Blessed be the name of the Lord.
Amen.
