For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.
1 Lord, thou hast searched me, and knownme.
2 Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.
3 Thou searchest out my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.
4 For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, OLord, thou knowest it altogether.
5 Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.
6 Suchknowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.
7 Whither shall I from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?
8 If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in Sheol, behold, thou art there.
9 If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;
10 Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.
11 If I say, Surely the darkness shall overwhelm me, and the light about me shall be night;
12 Even the darkness hideth not from thee, but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both aliketo thee.
13 For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb.
14 I will give thanks unto thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: wonderful are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.
15 My frame was not hidden from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
16 Thine eyes did see mine unperfect substance, and in thy book were allmy memberswritten, which day by day were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.
17 How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!
18 If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.
19 Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: depart from me therefore, ye bloodthirsty men.
20 For they speak against thee wickedly, and thine enemies takethy namein vain.
21 Do not I hate them, OLord, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?
22 I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies.
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me and know my thoughts:
24 And see if there be any way of wickedness in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.