1O Lord, you have examined my heart
and know everything about me.
2You know when I sit down or stand up.
You know my every thought when far
away.
3You chart the path ahead of me
and tell me where to stop and rest.
Every moment you know where I am.
4You know what I am going to say
even before I say it, Lord.
5You both precede and follow me.
You place your hand of blessing on my
my head.
6Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too great for me to know!
7I can never escape from your spirit!
I can never get away from your presence!
8If I go up to heaven, you are there;
if I go down to the place of the dead,
you are there.
9If I ride the wings of the morning,
if I dwell by the farthest oceans,
10even there your hand will guide me,
and your strength will support me.
11I could ask darkness to hide me
and the light around me to become
night-
12 but even in darkness I cannot hide
from you.
To you the night shines as bright as day.
Darkness andlight are both alike to
you.
13You made all the delicate, inner parts
of my body
and knit me together in my mother's
womb.
14Thank you for making me so wonderfully
complex!
Your workmanship is marvelous-and
how well I know it.
15You watched me as I was being formed
in utter seclusion,
as I was woven together in the dark
of the womb.
16You saw me before I was born.
Every day of my life was recorded in
your book.
Every moment was laid out
before a single day had passed.
17How precious areyour thoughts about
me, o God!
They are innumerable!
18I can't even count them;
they outnumber the grains of sand!
and when I wake up in the morning,
you are still with me!
19O God, if only you would destroy the
wicked!
Get out of my life, you murderers!
20They blaspheme you;
your enemies take your name in vain.
21O Lord, shouldn't I hate those who hate
you?
Shouldn't I despise those who resist
you?
22Yes, I hate them with complete hatred,
for your enemies are my enemies.
23Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my thoughts.
24Point out anything in me that offends
you.
and lead me along the path
of everlasting life.