For the music director, a psalm of David.
1O Lord, you examine me and know.
2You know when I sit down and when I get up;even from far away you understand my motives.
3You carefully observe me when I travel or when I lie down to rest;you are aware of everything I do.
4Certainly my tongue does not frame a wordwithout you, O Lord, being thoroughly aware of it.
5You squeeze me in from behind and in front;you place your hand on me.
6Your knowledge is beyond my comprehension;it is so far beyond me, I am unable to fathom it.
7Where can I go to escape your spirit?Where can I flee to escape your presence?
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 were to fly away on the wings of the dawn,and settle down on the other side of the sea,
10even there your hand would guide me,your right hand would grab hold of me.
11If I were to say, “Certainly the darkness will cover me,and the light will turn to night all around me,”
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.
13Certainly you made my mind and heart;you wove me together in my mother’s womb.
14I will give you thanks because your deeds are awesome and amazing.You knew me thoroughly;
15my bones were not hidden from you,when I was made in secretand sewed together in the depths of the earth.
16Your eyes saw me when I was inside the womb.All the days ordained for mewere recorded in your scrollbefore one of them came into existence.
17How difficult it is for me to fathom your thoughts about me, O God!How vast is their sum total!
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.
19If only you would kill the wicked, O God!Get away from me, you violent men!
20They rebel against you and act deceitfully;your enemies lie.
21O Lord, do I not hate those who hate you,and despise those who oppose you?
22I absolutely hate them,they have become my enemies!
23Examine me, and probe my thoughts!Test me, and know my concerns!
24See if there is any idolatrous tendency in me,and lead me in the reliable ancient path!