(A psalm by David for the music leader.)
The Lord Is Always Near
1 You have looked deep
into my heart, Lord,
and you know all about me.
2 You know when I am resting
or when I am working,
and from heaven
you discover my thoughts.
3 You notice everything I do
and everywhere I go.
4 Before I even speak a word,
you know what I will say,
5 and with your powerful arm
you protect me
from every side.
6 I can't understand all of this!
Such wonderful knowledge
is far above me.
7 Where could I go to escape
from your Spirit
or from your sight?
8 If I were to climb up
to the highest heavens,
you would be there.
If I were to dig down
to the world of the dead
you would also be there.
9 Suppose I had wings
like the dawning day
and flew across the ocean.
10 Even then your powerful arm
would guide and protect me.
11 Or suppose I said, “I'll hide
in the dark until night comes
to cover me over.”
12 But you see in the dark
because daylight and dark
are all the same to you.
13 You are the one
who put me together
inside my mother's body,
14 and I praise you because of
the wonderful way
you created me.
Everything you do is marvelous!
Of this I have no doubt.
15 Nothing about me
is hidden from you!
I was secretly woven together
out of human sight,
16 but with your own eyes you saw
my body being formed.
Even before I was born,
you had written in your book
everything about me.
17 Your thoughts are far beyond
my understanding,
much more than I
could ever imagine.
18 I try to count your thoughts,
but they outnumber the grains
of sand on the beach.
And when I awake,
I will find you nearby.
19 How I wish that you would kill
all cruel and heartless people
and protect me from them!
20 They are always rebelling
and speaking evil of you.
21 You know I hate anyone
who hates you, Lord,
and refuses to obey.
22 They are my enemies too,
and I truly hate them.
23 Look deep into my heart, God,
and find out everything
I am thinking.
24 Don't let me follow evil ways,
but lead me in the way
that time has proven true.
1 To him that excelleth. A Psalme of David. O Lord, thou hast tried me and knowen me. 2 Thou knowest my sitting and my rising: thou vnderstandest my thought afarre off. 3 Thou compassest my pathes, and my lying downe, and art accustomed to all my wayes. 4 For there is not a word in my tongue, but loe, thou knowest it wholy, O Lord. 5 Thou holdest mee straite behinde and before, and layest thine hand vpon me. 6 Thy knowledge is too wonderfull for mee: it is so high that I cannot attaine vnto it. 7 Whither shall I goe from thy Spirite? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? 8 If I ascende into heauen, thou art there: if I lye downe in hell, thou art there. 9 Let mee take the winges of the morning, and dwell in the vttermost parts of the sea: 10 Yet thither shall thine hand leade me, and thy right hand holde me. 11 If I say, Yet the darkenes shall hide me, euen the night shalbe light about me. 12 Yea, the darkenes hideth not from thee: but the night shineth as the day: the darkenes and light are both alike. 13 For thou hast possessed my reines: thou hast couered me in my mothers wombe. 14 I will praise thee, for I am fearefully and wonderously made: marueilous are thy workes, and my soule knoweth it well. 15 My bones are not hid from thee, though I was made in a secret place, and facioned beneath in the earth. 16 Thine eyes did see me, when I was without forme: for in thy booke were all things written, which in continuance were facioned, when there was none of them before. 17 Howe deare therefore are thy thoughtes vnto me, O God! how great is ye summe of them! 18 If I should count them, they are moe then the sand: when I wake, I am still with thee. 19 Oh that thou wouldest slay, O God, the wicked and bloody men, to whom I say, Depart ye from mee: 20 Which speake wickedly of thee, and being thine enemies are lifted vp in vaine. 21 Doe not I hate them, O Lord, that hate thee? and doe not I earnestly contend with those that rise vp against thee? 22 I hate them with an vnfained hatred, as they were mine vtter enemies. 23 Try mee, O God, and knowe mine heart: prooue me and know my thoughtes, 24 And consider if there be any way of wickednes in me, and leade me in the way for euer.