| 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. |
