1“To the chief musician, by David, a psalm.” O Lord! thou hast searched me through, and thou knowest [me].

2Thou indeed knowest my sitting down and my rising up, thou understandest my thinking while yet afar off.

3My walking and my lying down hast thou limited, and with all my ways art thou acquainted.

4For, while there is not a word on my tongue, lo, thou, O Lord, knowest it entirely.

5Behind and before hast thou hedged me in, and thou placest upon me thy hand.

6Too wonderful is such knowledge for me: it is too exalted, I cannot attain unto it.

7Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee away from thy presence?

8If I should ascend into heaven, thou art there; and if I should make my bed in the nether world, behold, thou art there.

9If I should lift up the wings of the morning-dawn, if I should dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea:

10Even there would thy hand lead me, and thy right hand would seize hold of me.

11If I said, Surely darkness shall enshroud me, and into night [be turned] the light about me:

12Yet even darkness can obscure nothing from thee; but the night will shine like the day; both the darkness and the light are alike [to thee].

13For thou possessest my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb.

14I will thank thee therefore, that I am [so] fearfully [and] wonderfully made: wonderful are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.

15My being was not concealed from thee, when I was made in secret, when I was [so to say] embroidered in the lowest parts of the earth.

16My undeveloped substance did thy eyes see; and in thy book were all of them written down—the days which have been formed, while yet not one of them was here.

17And how precious are unto me thy thoughts, O God! how mightily great is their sum!

18Should I count them, they would be more numerous than the sand: I awake, and I am still with thee.

19If thou wouldst but slay the wicked, O God! and ye men of blood, depart from me.

20Who speak of thee for a wicked end, thy enemies, that bear [thy name] for a vain purpose.

21Behold, those that hate thee I ever hate, O Lord; and for those that rise up against thee do I feel loathing.

22With the utmost hatred do I hate them: enemies are they become unto me.

23Search me through, O God, and know my heart; probe me, and know my thoughts:

24And see if there be a way of perverseness in me, and lead me on the way of eternity.