The first strophe (verses 1-6) describes Yahweh’s altogether incomprehensible knowledge of the psalmist; nothing he does or says or thinks escapes Yahweh’s notice. In verse 1 he succinctly states the case: Yahweh has searched him and so he knows him (see similar language in 17.2-3; 26.2; and also verse 23, below). “To search” means “to investigate, examine.” Searched me or Good News Translation‘s “examined me” may be rendered in some languages as “you have looked into my innermost” or “you have seen inside my heart.” And known me will sometimes be rendered “you know everything about me” or “there is nothing about me you don’t know.”

In verse 2a when I sit down and when I rise up is a way of describing the whole of the psalmist’s activity, everything he does. Not only his activities but all his thoughts are known by God, even though God is far away, either in his Temple or in the heavens (verse 2b). The Hebrew word translated thoughts occurs only here and in verse 17. In some languages Good News Translation‘s “from far away” may have to be recast as a concessive clause; for example, “even though you are far away, you know everything I think about.”

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Reyburn, William D. A Handbook on the Book of Psalms. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1991. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .