Psalm 16

Confidence in the Lord

A Davidic Miktam.(A)

Protect me, God, for I take refuge in You.(B)
I[a] said to Yahweh, “You are my Lord;
I have nothing good besides You.”[b](C)
As for the holy people who are in the land,(D)
they are the noble ones.
All my delight is in them.
The sorrows of those who take another god
for themselves will multiply;
I will not pour out their drink offerings of blood,
and I will not speak their names with my lips.(E)

Lord, You are my portion[c]
and my cup of blessing;
You hold my future.(F)
The boundary lines have fallen for me
in pleasant places;
indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.(G)

I will praise the Lord who counsels me(H)
even at night my conscience instructs me.(I)
I keep the Lord in mind[d] always.
Because He is at my right hand,
I will not be shaken.(J)

Therefore my heart is glad
and my spirit rejoices;
my body also rests securely.(K)
10 For You will not abandon me to Sheol;(L)
You will not allow Your Faithful One to see decay.(M)
11 You reveal the path of life to me;
in Your presence is abundant joy;(N)
in Your right hand are eternal pleasures.(O)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 16:2 Some Hb mss, LXX, Syr, Jer; other Hb mss read You
  2. Psalm 16:2 Or “Lord, my good; there is none besides You.”
  3. Psalm 16:5 Or allotted portion
  4. Psalm 16:8 Lit front of me

Psalm 16

A psalm[a] of David.

Keep me safe, O God,
    for I have come to you for refuge.

I said to the Lord, “You are my Master!
    Every good thing I have comes from you.”
The godly people in the land
    are my true heroes!
    I take pleasure in them!
Troubles multiply for those who chase after other gods.
    I will not take part in their sacrifices of blood
    or even speak the names of their gods.

Lord, you alone are my inheritance, my cup of blessing.
    You guard all that is mine.
The land you have given me is a pleasant land.
    What a wonderful inheritance!

I will bless the Lord who guides me;
    even at night my heart instructs me.
I know the Lord is always with me.
    I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me.

No wonder my heart is glad, and I rejoice.[b]
    My body rests in safety.
10 For you will not leave my soul among the dead[c]
    or allow your holy one[d] to rot in the grave.
11 You will show me the way of life,
    granting me the joy of your presence
    and the pleasures of living with you forever.[e]

Footnotes

  1. 16:Title Hebrew miktam. This may be a literary or musical term.
  2. 16:9 Greek version reads and my tongue shouts his praises. Compare Acts 2:26.
  3. 16:10a Hebrew in Sheol.
  4. 16:10b Or your Holy One.
  5. 16:11 Greek version reads You have shown me the way of life, / and you will fill me with the joy of your presence. Compare Acts 2:28.