Previous Chapter | Next Chapter
v1
O Yahweh, you have searched me, and you know me.
v2
You know my sitting down and my rising up. You understand my thought from afar.
v3
You search out ^[Hebrew “winnow”; or perhaps from another root, “measure”] my wandering and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways.
v4
For there is not a word yet on my tongue, but behold, O Yahweh, you know it completely.
v5
You barricade me behind and in front, and set your hand upon me.
v6
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me. It is set high; I cannot prevail against it.
v7
Where I can go from your Spirit, or where can I flee from your presence?
v8
If I ascend to heaven, there you are, and if I make my bed in Sheol, look! There you are.
v9
If I lift up the wings of the dawn, and I alight on the far side of the sea,
v10
even there your hand would lead me, and your right hand would hold me fast.
v11
And if I should say, “Surely darkness will cover me, and the light around me will be as night,“
v12
even the darkness is not too dark for you, ^[Or “does not obscure from you”] and the night shines as the day— the darkness and the light are alike for you.
v13
Indeed you created my inward parts; ^[Literally “kidneys”] you wove me in my mother’s womb.
v14
I praise you, because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. ^[Or “I am made wonderful fearfully”] Wonderful are your works, and my soul knows it well.
v15
My frame ^[Literally “bone”] was not hidden from you, when I was created secretly, ^[Or “in the secret place”] and intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
v16
Your eyes saw my embryo, ^[Hebrew “unformed substance”] and in your book they all were written— days fashioned for me when there was not one of them.
v17
And to me, how precious ^[Or “difficult”] are your thoughts, O God; how vast is their sum.
v18
If I should count them, they would outnumber the sand. I awaken, and I am still with you.
v19
If only you would kill the wicked, O God— so get away from me, you bloodthirsty men— ^[Literally “men of bloods”]
v20
who speak against you deceitfully. Your enemies take your name in vain.
v21
Do I not hate those who hate you, O Yahweh? And do I not loathe those who rise up against you?
v22
I hate them with a complete hatred; they have become my enemies.
v23
Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.
v24
And see if there is in me the worship of false gods, ^[Literally “a way of an idol”] and lead me in the way everlasting.