Psalm 138: God’s Omnipresence. A Prayer Realizing God’s Power and Omniscience.

The omniscience and omnipresence of God: no thought of man’s heart is hidden from God, and there is no place, howsoever remote, where a man can flee from God.

Parallel Latin-English Psalter: Psalms Index

Psalm 138: Prayer Audio in Latin

{138:1} In finem, Psalmus David. Domine probasti me, et cognovisti me:
{138:1} Unto the end. A Psalm of David. O Lord, you have examined me, and you have known me.

{138:2} tu cognovisti sessionem meam, et resurrectionem meam.
{138:2} You have known my sitting down and my rising up again.

{138:3} Intellexisti cogitationes meas de longe: semitam meam, et funiculum meum investigasti.
{138:3} You have understood my thoughts from afar. My path and my fate, you have investigated.

{138:4} Et omnes vias meas prævidisti: quia non est sermo in lingua mea.
{138:4} And you have foreseen all my ways. For there is no word in my tongue.

{138:5} Ecce Domine tu cognovisti omnia novissima, et antiqua: tu formasti me, et posuisti super me manum tuam.
{138:5} Behold, O Lord, you have known all things: the newest and the very old. You have formed me, and you have placed your hand over me.

{138:6} Mirabilis facta est scientia tua ex me: confortata est, et non potero ad eam.
{138:6} Your knowledge has become a wonder to me. It has been reinforced, and I am not able to prevail against it.

{138:7} Quo ibo a Spiritu tuo? et quo a facie tua fugiam?
{138:7} Where will I go from your Spirit? And where will I flee from your face?

{138:8} Si ascendero in cælum, tu illic es: si descendero in infernum, ades.
{138:8} If I ascend into heaven, you are there. If I descend into Hell, you are near.

{138:9} Si sumpsero pennas meas diluculo, et habitavero in extremis maris:
{138:9} If I assume my feathers in early morning, and dwell in the utmost parts of the sea,

{138:10} Etenim illuc manus tua deducet me: et tenebit me dextera tua.
{138:10} even there, your hand will lead me forth, and your right hand will hold me.

{138:11} Et dixi: Forsitan tenebræ conculcabunt me: et nox illuminatio mea in deliciis meis.
{138:11} And I said: Perhaps darkness will overwhelm me, and the night will be my illumination, to my delight.

{138:12} Quia tenebræ non obscurabuntur a te, et nox sicut dies illuminabitur: sicut tenebræ eius, ita et lumen eius.
{138:12} But darkness will not be impenetrable to you, and night will illuminate like the day: for just as its darkness is, so also is its light.

{138:13} Quia tu possedisti renes meos: suscepisti me de utero matris meæ.
{138:13} For you have possessed my temperament. You have supported me from the womb of my mother.

{138:14} Confitebor tibi quia terribiliter magnificatus es: mirabilia opera tua, et anima mea cognoscit nimis.
{138:14} I will confess to you, for you have been magnified terribly. Your works are miraculous, as my soul knows exceedingly well.

{138:15} Non est occultatum os meum a te, quod fecisti in occulto: et substantia mea in inferioribus terræ.
{138:15} My bone, which you have made in secret, has not been hidden from you, and my substance is in accord with the lower parts of the earth.

{138:16} Imperfectum meum viderunt oculi tui, et in libro tuo omnes scribentur: dies formabuntur, et nemo in eis.
{138:16} Your eyes saw my imperfection, and all this shall be written in your book. Days will be formed, and no one shall be in them.

{138:17} Mihi autem nimis honorificati sunt amici tui, Deus: nimis confortatus est principatus eorum.
{138:17} But to me, O God, your friends have been greatly honored. Their first ruler has been exceedingly strengthened.

{138:18} Dinumerabo eos, et super arenam multiplicabuntur: exurrexi, et adhuc sum tecum.
{138:18} I will number them, and they will be more numerous than the sand. I rose up, and I am still with you.

{138:19} Si occideris Deus peccatores: viri sanguinum declinate a me:
{138:19} O God, if only you would cut down sinners. You men of blood: depart from me.

{138:20} Quia dicitis in cogitatione: accipient in vanitate civitates tuas.
{138:20} For you say in thought: They will accept your cities in vain.

{138:21} Nonne qui oderunt te Domine, oderam: et super inimicos tuos tabescebam?
{138:21} Have I not hated those who hated you, Lord, and wasted away because of your enemies?

{138:22} Perfecto odio oderam illos: et inimici facti sunt mihi.
{138:22} I have hated them with a perfect hatred, and they have become enemies to me.

{138:23} Proba me Deus, et scito cor meum: interroga me, et cognosce semitas meas.
{138:23} Examine me, O God, and know my heart. Question me, and know my paths.

{138:24} Et vide, si via iniquitatis in me est: et deduc me in via æterna.
{138:24} And see if there might be in me the way of iniquity, and lead me in the way of eternity.