1To the Overseer. — A Psalm by David. Jehovah, Thou hast searched me, and knowest.

2Thou — Thou hast known my sitting down, And my rising up, Thou hast attended to my thoughts from afar.

3My path and my couch Thou hast fanned, And [with] all my ways hast been acquainted.

4For there is not a word in my tongue, Lo, O Jehovah, Thou hast known it all!

5Behind and before Thou hast besieged me, And Thou dost place on me Thy hand.

6Knowledge too wonderful for me, It hath been set on high, I am not able for it.

7Whither do I go from Thy Spirit? And whither from Thy face do I flee?

8If I ascend the heavens — there Thou [art], And spread out a couch in Sheol, lo, Thee!

9I take the wings of morning, I dwell in the uttermost part of the sea,

10Also there Thy hand doth lead me, And Thy right hand doth hold me.

11And I say, 'Surely darkness bruiseth me, Then night [is] light to me.

12Also darkness hideth not from Thee, And night as day shineth, as [is] darkness so [is] light.

13For Thou — Thou hast possessed my reins, Thou dost cover me in my mother's belly.

14I confess Thee, because that [with] wonders I have been distinguished. Wonderful [are] Thy works, And my soul is knowing [it] well.

15My substance was not hid from Thee, When I was made in secret, Curiously wrought in the lower part of earth.

16Mine unformed substance Thine eyes saw, And on Thy book all of them are written, The days they were formed — And not one among them.

17And to me how precious have been Thy thoughts, O God, how great hath been their sum!

18I recount them! than the sand they are more, I have waked, and I am still with Thee.

19Dost Thou slay, O God, the wicked? Then, men of blood, turn aside from me!

20Who exchange Thee for wickedness, Lifted up to vanity [are] Thine enemies.

21Do not I hate, Jehovah, those hating Thee? And with Thy withstanders grieve myself?

22[With] perfect hatred I have hated them, Enemies they have become to me.

23Search me, O God, and know my heart, Try me, and know my thoughts,

24And see if a grievous way be in me, And lead me in a way age-during!