1For the Conductor, by David, a psalm. O Lord, You have probed me, and You know.
2You know my sitting down and my standing up; You perceive my thought from afar.
3You encircle my going about and my lying down; You are familiar with all my paths.
4For there was not yet a word on my tongue-and behold, Lord, You knew it all.
5You have besieged me front and back, You have laid Your hand upon me.
6Knowledge [to escape You] is beyond me; it is exalted, I cannot know it.
7Where can I go [to escape] Your spirit? And where can I flee from Your presence?
8If I ascend to the heavens, You are there; if I make my bed in the grave, behold, You are there.
9Were I to take up wings as the dawn and dwell in the furthest part of the sea,
10there, too, Your hand would guide me; Your right hand would hold me.
11Were I to say, "Surely the darkness will shadow me," then the night would be as light around me.
12Even the darkness obscures nothing from You; and the night shines like the day-the darkness is as light.
13For You created my mind; You covered me in my mother's womb.
14I will thank You, for I was formed in an awesome and wondrous way; unfathomable are Your works, though my soul perceives much.
15My essence was not hidden from You even while I was born in concealment, formed in the depths of the earth.
16Your eyes beheld my raw form; all [happenings] are inscribed in Your book, even those to be formed in future days-to Him they are the same.
17How precious are Your thoughts to me, O God! How overwhelming, [even] their beginnings!
18Were I to count them, they would outnumber the sand, even if I were to remain awake and always with You.
19O that You would slay the wicked, O God, and men of blood [to whom I say], "Depart from me!”
20They exalt You for wicked schemes, Your enemies raise [You] for falsehood.
21Indeed, I hate those who hate You, Lord; I contend with those who rise up against You.
22I hate them with the utmost hatred; I regard them as my own enemies.
23Search me, Lord, and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts.
24See if there is a vexing way in me, then lead me in the way of the world.