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

Yahweh, you have searched me, and you know me.

2 Y ou know my downsitting and my uprising; You understand my thought afar off.

You know my sitting down and my rising up. You perceive my thoughts from afar.

3 Y ou sift and search out my path and my lying down, and You are acquainted with all my ways.

You search out my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways.

4 F or there is not a word in my tongue, but, behold, O Lord, You know it altogether.

For there is not a word on my tongue, but, behold, Yahweh, you know it altogether.

5 Y ou have beset me and shut me in—behind and before, and You have laid Your hand upon me.

You hem me in behind and before. You laid your hand on me.

6 Y our knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high above me, I cannot reach it.

This knowledge is beyond me. It’s lofty. I can’t attain it.

7 W here could I go from Your Spirit? Or where could I flee from Your presence?

Where could I go from your Spirit? Or where could I flee from your presence?

8 I f I ascend up into heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in Sheol (the place of the dead), behold, You are there.

If I ascend up into heaven, you are there. If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, you are there!

9 I f I take the wings of the morning or dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,

If I take the wings of the dawn, and settle in the uttermost parts of the sea;

10 E ven there shall Your hand lead me, and Your right hand shall hold me.

Even there your hand will lead me, and your right hand will hold me.

11 I f I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me and the night shall be light about me,

If I say, “Surely the darkness will overwhelm me; the light around me will be night”;

12 E ven the darkness hides nothing from You, but the night shines as the day; the darkness and the light are both alike to You.

even the darkness doesn’t hide from you, but the night shines as the day. The darkness is like light to you.

13 F or You did form my inward parts; You did knit me together in my mother’s womb.

For you formed my inmost being. You knit me together in my mother’s womb.

14 I will confess and praise You for You are fearful and wonderful and for the awful wonder of my birth! Wonderful are Your works, and that my inner self knows right well.

I will give thanks to you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful. My soul knows that very well.

15 M y frame was not hidden from You when I was being formed in secret intricately and curiously wrought in the depths of the earth.

My frame wasn’t hidden from you, when I was made in secret, woven together in the depths of the earth.

16 Y our eyes saw my unformed substance, and in Your book all the days were written before ever they took shape, when as yet there was none of them.

Your eyes saw my body. In your book they were all written, the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there were none of them.

17 H ow precious and weighty also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How vast is the sum of them!

How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is their sum!

18 I f I could count them, they would be more in number than the sand. When I awoke, I would still be with You.

If I would count them, they are more in number than the sand. When I wake up, I am still with you.

19 I f You would slay the wicked, O God, and the men of blood depart from me—

If only you, God, would kill the wicked. Get away from me, you bloodthirsty men!

20 W ho speak against You wickedly, Your enemies who take Your name in vain!

For they speak against you wickedly. Your enemies take your name in vain.

21 D o I not hate them, O Lord, who hate You? And am I not grieved and do I not loathe those who rise up against You?

Yahweh, don’t I hate those who hate you? Am I not grieved with those who rise up against you?

22 I hate them with perfect hatred; they have become my enemies.

I hate them with perfect hatred. They have become my enemies.

23 S earch me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts!

Search me, God, and know my heart. Try me, and know my thoughts.

24 A nd see if there is any wicked or hurtful way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

See if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way.