_David praiseth God for his allseeing providence, and for his infinite
mercies.—He defieth the wicked.—He prayeth for sincerity._
To the chief Musician. A Psalm of David.
O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known _me_.
Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my
thought afar off.
Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted _with_
all my ways.
For _there is_ not a word in my tongue, _but_, lo, O LORD, thou
knowest it altogether.
Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.
_Such_ knowledge _is_ too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot
_attain_ unto it.
Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy
presence?
If I ascend up into heaven, thou _art_ there: if I make my bed in
hell, behold, thou _art there_.
_If_ I take the wings of the morning, _and_ dwell in the uttermost
parts of the sea;
Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.
If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be
light above me.
Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the
day: the darkness and the light _are_ both alike _to thee_.
For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s
womb.
I will praise thee; for I am fearfully _and_ wonderfully made:
marvellous _are_ thy works; and _that_ my soul knoweth right well.
My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, _and_
curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
Thine 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.
How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the
sum of them!
_If_ I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when
I awake, I am still with thee.
Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: depart from me, therefore, ye
bloody men.
For they speak against thee wickedly, _and_ thine enemies take _thy
name_ in vain.
Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with
those that rise up against thee?