1 Lord, thou hast search’d me, and hast known
my rising up and laying down;
and from afar thy searching eye
beholds my thoughts that secret lie.
2 Thou know’st my path and lying down,
and all my ways to thee are known;
for in my tongue no word can be,
but, lo! O Lord, ‘tis known to thee.
3 Behind, before me, thou dost stand,
and lay on me thy mighty hand.
Such knowledge is for me too strange,
‘tis high beyond my utmost range.
4 O, whither shall my footsteps fly,
beyond thy Spirit’s searching eye?
To what retreat shall I repair,
and find not thy dread presence there?
5 If I to heaven shall ascend,
thy presence there will me attend;
if in the grave I make my bed,
lo! there I find thy presence dread.
6 If on the morning wings I flee,
and dwell in utmost parts of sea,
ev'n there thy hand shall guide my way,
and thy right hand shall be my stay.
7 Or if I say, to shun thine eye,
in shades of darkness I will lie,
around me then the very night
will shine as shines the noonday light.
8 From thee the shades can nought disguise;
the night is day before thine eyes;
the darkness is to thee as bright
as are the beams of noonday light.
9 My very reins belong to thee;
thou in the womb didst cover me;
and I to thee will praise proclaim,
for fearful, wondrous is my frame.
10 Thy works are wonderful, I know;
and when, in depths of earth below,
this complicated frame was made,
'twas all before thine eyes displayed.
11 My substance, yet unformed by thee,
thy searching eye did clearly see:
my days were written, every one,
within thy books, ere yet begun.
12 Thy thoughts, O God, to me are dear;
how vast their numbers do appear!
More than the sand my reckonings make;
I'm still with thee when I awake.
13 Thou wilt the wicked slay, O God;
depart from me, ye men of blood,
who speak to thee for ends profane,
thy foes who take thy name in vain.
14 Do not I hate thy haters, Lord?
and thy assailants hold abhorred?
A perfect hatred them I show,
and count each one to me a foe.
15 Search me, O God, my heart discern,
try me, my very thoughts to learn;
see if in evil paths I stray,
and guide me in the eternal way.
Source: The Irish Presbyterian Hymnbook #P139c
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