To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.
1 O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me .
2 Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.
3 Thou compassest 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, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.
5 Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.
7 Whither shall I go 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 hell, 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 cover me; even the night shall be light about me.
12 Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee .
13 For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb.
14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.
15 My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
16 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.
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 bloody men.
20 For they speak against thee wickedly, and thine enemies take thy name in vain.
21 Do not I hate them, O LORD, 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 wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
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.