| King James Bible | NET Bible |
| 1To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me. | 1For the music director, a psalm of David. O LORD, you examine me and know. |
| 2Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. | 2You know when I sit down and when I get up; even from far away you understand my motives. |
| 3Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. | 3You carefully observe me when I travel or when I lie down to rest; you are aware of everything I do. |
| 4For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether. | 4Certainly my tongue does not frame a word without you, O LORD, being thoroughly aware of it. |
| 5Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me. | 5You squeeze me in from behind and in front; you place your hand on me. |
| 6Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it. | 6Your knowledge is beyond my comprehension; it is so far beyond me, I am unable to fathom it. |
| 7Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? | 7Where can I go to escape your spirit? Where can I flee to escape your presence? |
| 8If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. | 8If I were to ascend to heaven, you would be there. If I were to sprawl out in Sheol, there you would be. |
| 9If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; | 9If I were to fly away on the wings of the dawn, and settle down on the other side of the sea, |
| 10Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. | 10even there your hand would guide me, your right hand would grab hold of me. |
| 11If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. | 11If I were to say, "Certainly the darkness will cover me, and the light will turn to night all around me," |
| 12Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee. | 12even the darkness is not too dark for you to see, and the night is as bright as day; darkness and light are the same to you. |
| 13For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. | 13Certainly you made my mind and heart; you wove me together in my mother's womb. |
| 14I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. | 14I will give you thanks because your deeds are awesome and amazing. You knew me thoroughly; |
| 15My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. | 15my bones were not hidden from you, when I was made in secret and sewed together in the depths of the earth. |
| 16Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them. | 16Your eyes saw me when I was inside the womb. All the days ordained for me were recorded in your scroll before one of them came into existence. |
| 17How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! | 17How difficult it is for me to fathom your thoughts about me, O God! How vast is their sum total! |
| 18If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee. | 18If I tried to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. Even if I finished counting them, I would still have to contend with you. |
| 19Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: depart from me therefore, ye bloody men. | 19If only you would kill the wicked, O God! Get away from me, you violent men! |
| 20For they speak against thee wickedly, and thine enemies take thy name in vain. | 20They rebel against you and act deceitfully; your enemies lie. |
| 21Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee? | 21O LORD, do I not hate those who hate you, and despise those who oppose you? |
| 22I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies. | 22I absolutely hate them, they have become my enemies! |
| 23Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: | 23Examine me, and probe my thoughts! Test me, and know my concerns! |
| 24And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. | 24See if there is any idolatrous tendency in me, and lead me in the reliable ancient path! |
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