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| O LORD, 1 Thou hast searchèd me out and known me, | |
| Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, | |
| Thou understandest my thoughts afar. | |
| Thou discernest my path and my bed, | |
| and art acquainted with all my ways. | 5 |
| For lo! ere the word is on my tongue, | |
| Thou, O Lord, knowest it altogether. | |
| Thou dost compass me behind and before, | |
| and over me Thou hast laid thine hand. | |
| Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; | 10 |
| it is high, I cannot attain unto it. | |
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| Whither shall I go then from thy spirit, | |
| or whither shall I flee then from thy face? | |
| If I climb up into heaven, Thou art there: | |
| if I lay me down in hell, Thou art there also. | 15 |
| If I take the wings of the morning, and remain in the uttermost parts of the sea, | |
| even there also should thy hand lead me, and thy right hand hold me. | |
| If I say, Peradventure the darkness may whelm me; | |
| let my day be turnèd into night,— | |
| The darkness is no darkness with Thee, | 20 |
| the night is as clear as the day, | |
| darkness and light to Thee are both alike. | |
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| The stirrings of my heart were of Thee; | |
| Thou didst knit me together in my mothers womb. | |
| I will give thanks unto Thee in my fear and wonder: | 25 |
| Marvellous are Thy works, and that my soul knoweth right well. | |
| My frame was not hid from Thee, | |
| when I was made secretly and richly wrought in the deep of the earth. | |
| Thine eyes did see my substance yet being imperfect: | |
| And in thy book they were all written, | 30 |
| The days that were outshapen for me, | |
| when as yet there was none of them. | |
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| How dear are thy thoughts unto me, O God; | |
| O how great is the sum of them! | |
| Should I tell them, they are more in number than the sand. | 35 |
| My spirit awaketh, and still I am with Thee … | |
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| Try me, O God, and seek the ground of my heart; | |
| prove me and examine my thoughts. | |
| Look well if there be any way of sorrow in me, | |
| and lead me in the way everlasting. | 40 |
