1For the end, a Psalm of David. ²⁴³O Lord, thou hast proved me, and known me.

2Thou knowest my down-sitting and mine up-rising: thou understandest my thoughts ²⁴⁴long before.

3Thou hast traced my path and my ²⁴⁵bed, and hast foreseen all my ways.

4For there is no unrighteous word in my tongue: behold, O Lord, thou hast known all things,

5the last and the first: thou hast fashioned me, and laid thine hand upon me.

6The knowledge of thee is too wonderful for me; it is very difficult, I cannot attain to it.

7Whither shall I go from thy Spirit? and whither shall I flee from thy presence?

8If I should go up to heaven, thou art there: if I should go down to hell, thou art present.

9If I should spread my wings to fly ²⁴⁶straight forward, and sojourn at the extremity of the sea, it would be vain,

10for even there thy hand would guide me, and thy right hand would hold me.

11When I said, Surely the darkness will cover me; even the night was light in my ²⁴⁷luxury.

12For darkness will not be darkness with thee; but night will be light as day: as its darkness, so shall its light be to thee.

13For thou, O Lord, hast possessed my reins; thou hast helped me from my mother's womb.

14I will give thee thanks; for thou art fearfully wondrous; wondrous are thy works; and my soul knows it well.

15My bones which thou madest in secret were not hidden from thee, nor my substance, in the lowest parts of the earth.

16Thine eyes saw my unwrought substance, and all men shall be written in thy book; they shall be formed by day, though there should for a time be no one among them.

17But thy friends, O God, have been greatly honoured by me; their rule has been greatly strengthened.

18I will number them, and they shall be multiplied beyond the sand; I awake, and am still with thee.

19Oh that thou wouldest slay the wicked, O God; depart from me, ye men of blood.

20For thou wilt say concerning their thought, that they shall take thy cities in vain.

21Have I not hated them, O Lord, that hate thee? and wasted away because of thine enemies?

22I have hated them with perfect hatred; they were counted my enemies.

23Prove me, O God, and know my heart; examine me, and know my paths;

24and see if there is any way of iniquity in me, and lead me in an everlasting way.