You Will Not Abandon My Soul

A (A)Miktam[a] of David.

16 Preserve me, O God, for in you I (B)take refuge.
I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord;
    (C)I have no good apart from you.”

As for (D)the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones,
    in whom is all my delight.[b]

The sorrows of those who run after[c] another god shall multiply;
    their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out
    or (E)take their names on my lips.

The Lord is (F)my chosen portion and my (G)cup;
    you hold my (H)lot.
(I)The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
    indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.

I bless the Lord who (J)gives me counsel;
    in (K)the night also my (L)heart instructs me.[d]
(M)I have (N)set the Lord always before me;
    because he is at my (O)right hand, I shall not be (P)shaken.

Therefore my heart is glad, and my (Q)whole being[e] rejoices;
    my flesh also dwells secure.
10 For you will not abandon my soul to (R)Sheol,
    (S)or let your (T)holy one see (U)corruption.[f]

11 You make known to me (V)the path of life;
    in your presence there is (W)fullness of joy;
    at your right hand are (X)pleasures forevermore.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 16:1 Probably a musical or liturgical term
  2. Psalm 16:3 Or To the saints in the land, the excellent in whom is all my delight, I say:
  3. Psalm 16:4 Or who acquire
  4. Psalm 16:7 Hebrew my kidneys instruct me
  5. Psalm 16:9 Hebrew my glory
  6. Psalm 16:10 Or see the pit

Psalm 16

A miktam[a] by David.

Protect me, O El, because I take refuge in you.
I said to Yahweh,
    “You are my Adonay. Without you, I have nothing good.”
Those who lead holy lives on earth
    are the noble ones who fill me with joy.[b]
Those who quickly chase after other gods multiply their sorrows.
    I will not pour out their sacrificial offerings of blood
        or use my lips to speak their names.

Yahweh is my inheritance and my cup.
    You are the one who determines my destiny.
Your boundary lines mark out pleasant places for me.
    Indeed, my inheritance is something beautiful.

I will praise Yahweh, who advises me.
    My conscience warns me at night.
I always keep Yahweh in front of me.
    When he is by my side, I cannot be moved.
        That is why my heart is glad and my soul rejoices.
            My body rests securely
10 because you do not abandon my soul to the grave
    or allow your holy one to decay.
11 You make the path of life known to me.
    Complete joy is in your presence.
        Pleasures are by your side forever.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 16:1 Unknown musical term.
  2. Psalm 16:3 English equivalent of this verse difficult.