To the chief musician, a psalm of David.
1 O Lord, thou hast me searcht and known.
2Thou know’st my sitting down,
and mine up-rising: my thought is
to thee afar off known.
3 Thou know’st my paths, and lying down,
and all my ways know’st well.
4 For lo, each word that’s in my tongue,
Lord, thou canst fully tell.
5 Behind thou gird’st me, and before:
and layest on me thine hand.
6 Such knowledge is too strange, too high,
for me to understand
7 Where shall I from thy presence go?
or where from thy face fly?
8 If heav’n I climb, thou there, lo thou,
if down in hell I lie.
9 If I take mornings wings; and dwell
where utmost sea-coasts be.
10 Ev’n there thy hand shall me conduct:
and thy right hand hold me.
11 That verily the darkness shall
me cover, if I say:
then shall the night about me be
like to the lightsome day.
12 Yea, darkness hideth not from thee,
but as the day shines night:
alike unto thee both these are,
the darkness and the light.
13 Because that thou possessed hast
my reigns: and covered me
within my mothers womb thou hast.
14 My praise shall be of thee,
Because that I am fashioned
in fearful wondrous wise:
and that thy works are marvelous,
my soul right well descries.
(2)
15 From thee my substance was not hid,
when made I was closely:
and when within th’ earths lowest parts
I was wrought curiously.
16 Thine eyes upon my substance yet
imperfected, did look,
and all the members that I have
were written in thy book,
What days they should be fashioned:
none of them yet were come.
17 How precious are thy thoughts to me,
o God? how great’s the sum?
18 If I should count them, in number
more then the sands they be:
and at what time I do awake,
still I abide with thee.
19 Assuredly thou wilt o God,
those that be wicked slay:
ye that are bloody men, therefore
depart from me away.
20 Because that they against thee do
speak wickedly likewise:
thy Name they do take up in vain
who are thine enemies.
21 Thy haters Lord, do I not hate?
and am not I with those
offended grievously that do
up-rising thee oppose?
22 Them I with perfect hatred hate:
I count them as my foes.
23 Search me o God, and know my heart:
try me, my thoughts disclose:
24 And see if any wicked way
in me there be at all:
and me conduct within the way
that last forever shall.