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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.