O Lord, thou searchest and knowest me,
Whether I sit or stand, thou knowest,
Thou readest my thought afar off,
When I walk or lie down thou dost know it.

Thou knowest all my ways.
There is not a word on my tongue
That thou, O Lord, dost not know!
Behind and before thou enfoldest me,
Over me thou dost lay thy hand.
Such knowledge for me is too wonderful!
Too high, I cannot attain it.

Where shall I go from thy spirit,
Where shall I flee from thy presence?
If I climb into heaven, thou art there,
If I lie down in the grave, thou art there.
Should I take the wings of the morning,
And dwell on the most distant sea,
Even there thy hand would grasp me,
Thy right hand would hold me fast.

If I say, "The darkness will hide me,
And the night throw its curtain about me,"
Even darkness for thee is not dark,
But the night shines clear as the day.

Thou didst form my vital parts,
Thou didst make me from the beginning,
I thank thee, for I am wonderfully made;
Fearful and marvellous are thy works.

How precious to me are thy thoughts, O God!
How great is the sum of them all!
Should I count them, they would be more than the sand;
When I awake, I am still with thee.

Search me, O God, and know my heart,
Try me, and know my secret thoughts,
And see if I have any evil in me,
And lead me in the way to eternal life.