Yahweh, you examine me and know me,

you know when I sit, when I rise,

you understand my thoughts from afar.

You watch when I walk or lie down,

you know every detail of my conduct.

A word is not yet on my tongue

before you, Yahweh, know all about it.

You fence me in, behind and in front,

you have laid your hand upon me.

Such amazing knowledge is beyond me,

a height to which I cannot attain.

Where will I go to escape your spirit?

Where shall I flee from your presence?

If I scale the heavens you are there,

if I lie flat in Sheol there you are.

If I speed away on the wings of the dawn,

if I dwell beyond the ocean,

even there your hand will be guiding me,

your right hand holding me fast.

I will say, "Let the darkness cover me,

and the night wrap itself around me,

even darkness to you is not dark,

and night is as clear as the day.

You created my inmost self,

knit me together in my mother’s womb.

For so many marvels I thank you;

a wonder am I, and all your works are wonders.

You knew me through and through,

my being held no secrets from you,

when I was being formed in secret,

textured in the depths of the earth.

Your eyes could see my embryo.

In your book all my days were inscribed,

everyone that was fixed is there.

How hard for me to grasp your thoughts,

how many, God, there are!

If I count them, they are more than the grains of sand;

if I come to an end, I am still with you.

If only, God, you would kill the wicked!

men of violence, keep away from me!

those who speak blasphemously about you,

and take no account of your thoughts.

Yahweh, do I not hate those who hate you,

and loathe those who defy you?

My hate for them has no limits,

I regard them as my own enemies.

God, examine me and know my heart,

test me and know my concerns.

Make sure that I am not on my way to ruin,

and guide me on the road of eternity.

What are human beings that you should take them so seriously,

subjecting them to your scrutiny,

that morning after morning you should examine them

and at every instant test them?

Will you never take your eyes off me

long enough for me to swallow my spittle?

Suppose I have sinned, what have I done to you,

you tireless watcher of humanity?