The All-Knowing, Ever-Present God

For the choir director. A Davidic psalm.

1LORD, You have searched me and known me.a

2You know when I sit down and when I stand up;

You understand my thoughts from far away.b

3You observe my travels and my rest;

You are aware of all my ways.c

4Before a word is on my tongue,

You know all about it, LORD.d

5You have encircled me;

You have placed Your hand on me.e

6This extraordinary knowledge is beyond me.

It is lofty; I am unable to reach it.f

7Where can I go to escape Your Spirit?

Where can I flee from Your presence?g

8If I go up to heaven, You are there;h

if I make my bed in •Sheol, You are there.i

9If I live at the eastern horizon

or settle at the western limits,j

10even there Your hand will lead me;

Your right hand will hold on to me.k

11If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me,

and the light around me will be night”l —

12even the darkness is not dark to You.

The night shines like the day;

darkness and light are alike to You.m

13For it was You who created my inward parts;n

You knit me together in my mother’s womb.o

14I will praise You

because I have been remarkably and wonderfully made.p, q

Your works are wonderful,

and I know this very well.r

15My bones were not hidden from You

when I was made in secret,

when I was formed in the depths of the earth.s

16Your eyes saw me when I was formless;

all my days were written in Your book and planned

before a single one of them began.t

17God, how difficultu Your thoughts are

for me to comprehend;

how vast their sum is!

18If I counted them,

they would outnumber the grains of sand;v

when I wake up,w I am still with You.x

19God, if only You would kill the wicked —

you bloodthirsty men, stay away from mey —

20who invoke You deceitfully.

Your enemies swear by You falsely.z

21LORD, don’t I hate those who hate You,

and detest those who rebel against You?

22I hate them with extreme hatred;

I consider them my enemies.aa

23Search me, God, and know my heart;

test me and know my concerns.ab

24See if there is any offensiveac way in me;

lead me in the everlasting way.ad