■ 1 Surely the LORD is in this place.

■ 2 The LORD searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts.

■ 3 You [Lord] alone know the hearts of men.

■ 4 He [God] knows the way that I take.

■ 5 His [God’s] eyes are on their ways.

■ 6 Does he [God] not see my ways and count my every step?

■ 7 His eyes are on the ways of men; he sees their every step. There is no dark place, no deep shadow, where evildoers can hide. God has no need to examine men further, that they should come before him for judgment. . . . He takes note of their deeds.

■ 8 The LORD looks down and sees all mankind; from his dwelling place he watches all who live on earth—he who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do.

■ 9 The LORD is close.

■ 10 He [God] knows the secrets of the heart.

■ 11 The LORD knows the thoughts of man.

■ 12 Yet you are near, O LORD. . . . All my ways are known to you.

■ 13 O LORD, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD. . . . Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.

■ 14 The LORD is near.

■ 15 For a man’s ways are in full view of the LORD, and he examines all his paths.

■ 16 “Can anyone hide in secret places so that I cannot see him?”declares the LORD. “Do I not fill heaven and earth?”

■ 17 Your [God’s] eyes are open to all the ways of men.

■ 18 “The very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid.”

■ 19 “Surely I [Jesus] am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

■ 20 He [God] is not far from each one of us.

■ 21 “Never will I [God] leave you; never will I forsake you.”

-rjs