You Have Searched Me and Know Me

1O lord, you have searched me, and known me.

2You know my sitting down and my rising up, you understand my thought afar off.

3You compass my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways.

4For there is not a word in my tongue, but, see, O LORD, you know it altogether.

5You have beset me behind and before, and laid your hand on me.

6Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain to it.

7Where shall I go from your spirit? or where shall I flee from your presence?

8If I ascend up into heaven, you are there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, you are there.

9If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;

10Even there shall your hand lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.

11If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.

12Yes, the darkness hides not from you; but the night shines as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to you.

13For you have possessed my reins: you have covered me in my mother's womb.

14I will praise you; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are your works; and that my soul knows right well.

15My substance was not hid from you, when I was made in secret, and curiously worked in the lowest parts of the earth.

16Your eyes did see my substance, yet being imperfect; and in your book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.

17How precious also are your thoughts to me, O God! how great is the sum of them!

18If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with you.

19Surely you will slay the wicked, O God: depart from me therefore, you bloody men.

20For they speak against you wickedly, and your enemies take your name in vain.

21Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate you? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against you?

22I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them my enemies.

23Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:

24And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.