1To him that excelleth. A Psalme of Dauid. O Lord, thou hast tried me and knowen me. 2Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. 3Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted [with] all my ways. 4For [there is] not a word in my tongue, [but], lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether. 5Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me. 6Thy knowledge is too wonderfull for mee: it is so high that I cannot attaine vnto it. 7Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? 8If I ascende into heauen, thou art there: if I lye downe in hell, thou art there. 9Let mee take the winges of the morning, and dwell in the vttermost parts of the sea: 10Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. 11If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. 12Yea, the darkenes hideth not from thee: but the night shineth as the day: the darkenes and light are both alike. 13For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. 14I will praise thee; for I am fearfully [and] wonderfully made: marvellous [are] thy works; and [that] my soul knoweth right well. 15My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, [and] curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. 16Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all [my members] were written, [which] in continuance were fashioned, when [as yet there was] none of them. 17How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! 18[If] I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee. 19Oh that thou wouldest slay, O God, the wicked and bloody men, to whom I say, Depart ye from mee: 20Which speake wickedly of thee, and being thine enemies are lifted vp in vaine. 21Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee? 22I hate them with an vnfained hatred, as they were mine vtter enemies. 23Try mee, O God, and knowe mine heart: prooue me and know my thoughtes, 24And see if [there be any] wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.