1Lord, you have examined me from the inside out—you know everything about me!

2You know when I sit down and when I get up. You know what I'm thinking even when I'm a long way away.

3You observe where I go and when I rest. You're familiar with everything I do.

4Lord, you even know what I'm going to say before I say it.

5You're always there—behind me, in front of me, and all around me. You place your caring hand on me.

6This amazing knowledge ⁴⁵²you have is far beyond me, way beyond my understanding!

7Where can I go that you're not already there? Where can I run to escape your presence?

8If I go up to heaven, you are there. If I lie down in Sheol, ⁴⁵³look—you are there too!

9If I were to fly away on wings of the dawn to the east; if I were to live on the far western shore of the sea,

10even there your hand would lead me, your right hand would support me.

11If I asked the darkness to hide me, and light to become night around me,

12Even darkness would not be dark for you, and the night would be bright as day, for darkness is like light to you.

13You made me from the inside out, ⁴⁵⁴shaping me in my mother's womb.

14I praise you for making me in such an awesome and wonderful way. What you do is incredible—I realize this completely!

15My growing body ⁴⁵⁵was not hidden from you as I was formed in secret, as I was intricately put together “in the depths of the earth.” ⁴⁵⁶

16You saw me as an embryo, and in your book all my days were written down—the days that were made for me before any of them existed.

17God, your thoughts are so valuable ⁴⁵⁷to me! Taken together, they can't be counted!

18If I tried to count them, they would be more than every grain of sand. Yet when I awake ⁴⁵⁸I am still with you.

19God, if you would only kill the wicked! Murderers, ⁴⁵⁹get away from me!

20When they speak of you they're being deceptively evil. Since they are your enemies, they call on you in vain.

21Lord, don't I hate those who hate you? I despise those who rebel against you!

22I hate them with absolute hatred—they have become my enemies!

23Examine me carefully, God, so you can be sure of my true feelings. Check me out so you can know what I really think.

24Please show me if I'm following any kind of idol, and lead me along the path of eternal life.