To the chief Musician,
A Psalm
of David.
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.
