The speaker acknowledges God's all-knowing and all-present nature, recognizing that God has complete understanding of their thoughts, actions, and being. They express a sense of awe and reverence for God's knowledge and power, and acknowledge that they cannot escape or hide from God. The speaker also asks God to examine their heart and lead them in the way of eternity, while expressing hatred for those who hate God and asking God to cut down sinners.
1 Unto the end. A Psalm of David. O Lord, you have examined me, and you have known me 2 You have known my sitting down and my rising up again 3 You have understood my thoughts from afar. My path and my fate, you have investigated 4 And you have foreseen all my ways. For there is no word in my tongue 5 Behold, O Lord, you have known all things: the newest and the very old. You have formed me, and you have placed your hand over me 6 Your knowledge has become a wonder to me. It has been reinforced, and I am not able to prevail against it 7 Where will I go from your Spirit? And where will I flee from your face 8 If I ascend into heaven, you are there. If I descend into Hell, you are near 9 If I assume my feathers in early morning, and dwell in the utmost parts of the sea 10 even there, your hand will lead me forth, and your right hand will hold me 11 And I said: Perhaps darkness will overwhelm me, and the night will be my illumination, to my delight 12 But darkness will not be impenetrable to you, and night will illuminate like the day: for just as its darkness is, so also is its light 13 For you have possessed my temperament. You have supported me from the womb of my mother 14 I will confess to you, for you have been magnified terribly. Your works are miraculous, as my soul knows exceedingly well 15 My bone, which you have made in secret, has not been hidden from you, and my substance is in accord with the lower parts of the earth 16 Your eyes saw my imperfection, and all this shall be written in your book. Days will be formed, and no one shall be in them 17 But to me, O God, your friends have been greatly honored. Their first ruler has been exceedingly strengthened 18 I will number them, and they will be more numerous than the sand. I rose up, and I am still with you 19 O God, if only you would cut down sinners. You men of blood: depart from me 20 For you say in thought: They will accept your cities in vain 21 Have I not hated those who hated you, Lord, and wasted away because of your enemies 22 I have hated them with a perfect hatred, and they have become enemies to me 23 Examine me, O God, and know my heart. Question me, and know my paths 24 And see if there might be in me the way of iniquity, and lead me in the way of eternity