| 1 Lord, thou hast proved me, and known me: | 1 [Dem Chorleiter. Ein Psalm Davids.] |
| 2 thou hast know my sitting down, and my rising up. | 2 Rette mich, Herr, vor bösen Menschen, vor gewalttätigen Leuten bewahre mich! |
| 3 Thou hast understood my thoughts afar off: my path and my line thou hast searched out. | 3 Sie ersinnen Böses im Herzen, jeden Tag erregen sie Streit. |
| 4 And thou hast foreseen all my ways: for there is no speech in my tongue. | 4 Sie schärfen ihre Zungen wie Schlangen, haben Natterngift unter den Lippen. [Zwischenspiel] |
| 5 Behold, O Lord, thou hast known all things, the last and those of old: thou hast formed me, and hast laid thy hand upon me. | 5 Behüte mich, Herr, vor den Händen der Frevler, vor gewalttätigen Leuten bewahre mich, die darauf sinnen, meinen Sturz zu erreichen! |
| 6 Thy knowledge is become wonderful to me: it is high, and I cannot reach to it. | 6 Hochmütige legen mir heimlich Schlingen, Verbrecher breiten ein Netz aus, stellen am Wegrand mir Fallen. [Zwischenspiel] |
| 7 Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy face? | 7 Ich spreche zum Herrn: Mein Gott bist du! Höre, Herr, mein lautes Flehen! |
| 8 If I ascend into heaven, thou art there: if I descend into hell, thou art present. | 8 Herr, mein Gebieter, du meine machtvolle Hilfe, du beschirmst mein Haupt am Tage des Kampfes! |
| 9 If I take my wings early in the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea: | 9 Erfülle nicht, Herr, das Begehren des Frevlers, laß seinen Plan nicht gelingen! |
| 10 Even there also shall thy hand lead me: and thy right hand shall hold me. | 10 Meine Umgebung erhebt das Haupt; was ihre Lippen Schlimmes reden, treffe sie selbst! |
| 11 And I said: Perhaps darkness shall cover me: and night shall be my light in my pleasures. | 11 Er lasse Kohlen auf sie regnen, stürze sie ins Feuer, in Gruben, daß sie sich nicht mehr erheben! |
| 12 But darkness shall not be dark to thee, and night shall be light as day: the darkness thereof, and the light thereof are alike to thee. | 12 Ein Mann böser Zunge habe im Lande keinen Bestand, den Gewalttätigen jage das Unglück Schlag auf Schlag! |
| 13 For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast protected me from my mother's womb. | 13 Ich weiß, der Herr vertritt die Sache der Bedrückten, das Recht der Armen. |
| 14 I will praise thee, for thou art fearfully magnified: wonderful are thy works, and my soul knoweth right well. | 14 Fürwahr, die Gerechten werden deinen Namen preisen, die Rechtschaffenen weilen vor deinem Antlitz! |
| 15 My bone is not hidden from thee, which thou hast made in secret: and my substance in the lower parts of the earth. | |
| 16 Thy eyes did see my imperfect being, and in thy book all shall be written: days shall be formed, and no one in them. | |
| 17 But to me thy friends, O God, are made exceedingly honourable: their principality is exceedingly strengthened. | |
| 18 I will number them, and they shall be multiplied above the sand: I rose up and am still with thee. | |
| 19 If thou wilt kill the wicked, O God: ye men of blood, depart from me: | |
| 20 Because you say in thought: They shall receive thy cities in vain. | |
| 21 Have I not hated them, O Lord, that hated thee: and pine away because of thy enemies? | |
| 22 I have hated them with a perfect hatred: and they are become enemies to me. | |
| 23 Prove me, O God, and know my heart: examine me, and know my paths. | |
| 24 And see if there be in me the way of iniquity: and lead me in the eternal way. | |