God’s Perfect Knowledge of Man
For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.
1 OLord,You have searched me and knownme.
2 You know my sitting down and my rising up;
# Youunderstand my thought afar off.
3 You comprehend my path and my lying down,
And are acquainted with all my ways.
4 Forthereisnot a word on my tongue,
# Butbehold, OLord,You know it altogether.
5 You have hedged me behind and before,
And laid Your hand upon me.
6 Suchknowledgeistoo wonderful for me;
It is high, I cannotattainit.
7 Where can I go from Your Spirit?
Or where can I flee from Your presence?
8 If I ascend into heaven, Youarethere;
# If I make my bed in hell, behold, Youarethere.
9 IfI take the wings of the morning,
Anddwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
10 Even there Your hand shall lead me,
And Your right hand shall hold me.
11 If I say, “Surely the darkness shall fall on me,”
Even the night shall be light about me;
12 Indeed,the darkness shall not hide from You,
But the night shines as the day;
The darkness and the lightareboth aliketoYou.
13 For You formed my inward parts;
You covered me in my mother’s womb.
14 I will praise You, for I am fearfullyandwonderfully made;
Marvelous are Your works,
Andthatmy soul knows very well.
15 My frame was not hidden from You,
When I was made in secret,
Andskillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.
And in Your book they all were written,
The days fashioned for me,
Whenasyettherewerenone of them.
17 How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!
How great is the sum of them!
18 IfI should count them, they would be more in number than the sand;
When I awake, I am still with You.
19 Oh, that You wouldslay the wicked, O God!
# Depart from me, therefore, you bloodthirsty men.
20 For theyspeak against You wickedly;
Your enemies takeYournamein vain.
21 Do I not hate them, OLord, who hate You?
And do I not loathe those who rise up against You?
22 I hate them with perfect hatred;
I count them my enemies.
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me, and know my anxieties;
24 And see ifthereisanywicked way in me,
# Andlead me in the way everlasting.