Psalm 138-141

New International Version

⁴ May all the kings of the earth^(J) praise you, Lord,
    when they hear what you have decreed.
⁵ May they sing^(K) of the ways of the Lord,
    for the glory of the Lord^(L) is great.

⁶ Though the Lord is exalted, he looks kindly on the lowly;^(M)
    though lofty, he sees them^(N) from afar.
⁷ Though I walk^(O) in the midst of trouble,
    you preserve my life.^(P)
You stretch out your hand^(Q) against the anger of my foes;^(R)
    with your right hand^(S) you save me.^(T)
8 The Lord will vindicate^(U) me;
    your love, Lord, endures forever^(V)—
    do not abandon^(W) the works of your hands.^(X)

⁷ Where can I go from your Spirit?
    Where can I flee^(AI) from your presence?
⁸ If I go up to the heavens,^(AJ) you are there;
    if I make my bed^(AK) in the depths, you are there.
⁹ If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
    if I settle on the far side of the sea,
¹⁰ even there your hand will guide me,^(AL)
    your right hand^(AM) will hold me fast.
¹¹ If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me
    and the light become night around me,”
¹² even the darkness will not be dark^(AN) to you;
    the night will shine like the day,
    for darkness is as light to you.

¹³ For you created my inmost being;^(AO)
    you knit me together^(AP) in my mother’s womb.^(AQ)
14 I praise you^(AR) because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
    your works are wonderful,^(AS)
    I know that full well.
¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from you
    when I was made^(AT) in the secret place,
    when I was woven together^(AU) in the depths of the earth.^(AV)
16 Your eyes saw my unformed body;
    all the days ordained^(AW) for me were written in your book
    before one of them came to be.
¹⁷ How precious to me are your thoughts,^[a](AX) God!^(AY)
    How vast is the sum of them!
¹⁸ Were I to count them,^(AZ)
    they would outnumber the grains of sand^(BA)—
    when I awake,^(BB) I am still with you.

¹⁹ If only you, God, would slay the wicked!^(BC)
    Away from me,^(BD) you who are bloodthirsty!^(BE)
20 They speak of you with evil intent;
    your adversaries^(BF) misuse your name.^(BG)
21 Do I not hate those^(BH) who hate you, Lord,
    and abhor^(BI) those who are in rebellion against you?
²² I have nothing but hatred for them;
    I count them my enemies.^(BJ)
23 Search me,^(BK) God, and know my heart;^(BL)
    test me and know my anxious thoughts.
²⁴ See if there is any offensive way^(BM) in me,
    and lead me^(BN) in the way everlasting.

⁴ Keep me safe,^(BU) Lord, from the hands of the wicked;^(BV)
    protect me from the violent,
    who devise ways to trip my feet.
⁵ The arrogant have hidden a snare^(BW) for me;
    they have spread out the cords of their net^(BX)
    and have set traps^(BY) for me along my path.

⁶ I say to the Lord, “You are my God.”^(BZ)
    Hear, Lord, my cry for mercy.^(CA)
7 Sovereign Lord,^(CB) my strong deliverer,
    you shield my head in the day of battle.
⁸ Do not grant the wicked^(CC) their desires, Lord;
    do not let their plans succeed.

⁹ Those who surround me proudly rear their heads;
    may the mischief of their lips engulf them.^(CD)
10 May burning coals fall on them;
    may they be thrown into the fire,^(CE)
    into miry pits, never to rise.
¹¹ May slanderers not be established in the land;
    may disaster hunt down the violent.^(CF)

¹² I know that the Lord secures justice for the poor^(CG)
    and upholds the cause^(CH) of the needy.^(CI)
13 Surely the righteous will praise your name,^(CJ)
    and the upright will live^(CK) in your presence.^(CL)

³ Set a guard over my mouth,^(CR) Lord;
    keep watch over the door of my lips.^(CS)
4 Do not let my heart^(CT) be drawn to what is evil
    so that I take part in wicked deeds^(CU)
along with those who are evildoers;
    do not let me eat their delicacies.^(CV)

⁵ Let a righteous man strike me—that is a kindness;
    let him rebuke me^(CW)—that is oil on my head.^(CX)
My head will not refuse it,
    for my prayer will still be against the deeds of evildoers.

⁶ Their rulers will be thrown down from the cliffs,^(CY)
    and the wicked will learn that my words were well spoken.
⁷ They will say, “As one plows^(CZ) and breaks up the earth,^(DA)
    so our bones have been scattered at the mouth^(DB) of the grave.”

⁸ But my eyes are fixed^(DC) on you, Sovereign Lord;
    in you I take refuge^(DD)—do not give me over to death.
⁹ Keep me safe^(DE) from the traps set by evildoers,^(DF)
    from the snares^(DG) they have laid for me.
¹⁰ Let the wicked fall^(DH) into their own nets,
    while I pass by in safety.^(DI)