Print Page Options

Psalm 16[a]

God the Supreme Good

(A)A miktam[b] of David.

I

Keep me safe, O God;
    in you I take refuge.
I say to the Lord,
    you are my Lord,
    you are my only good.
As for the holy ones who are in the land,
    they are noble,
    in whom is all my delight.
[c]They multiply their sorrows
    who court other gods.
Blood libations to them I will not pour out,
    nor will I take their names upon my lips.
Lord, my allotted portion and my cup,
    you have made my destiny secure.(B)
[d]Pleasant places were measured out for me;
    fair to me indeed is my inheritance.

II

I bless the Lord who counsels me;
    even at night my heart exhorts me.
I keep the Lord always before me;
    with him at my right hand, I shall never be shaken.(C)
Therefore my heart is glad, my soul rejoices;
    my body also dwells secure,
10 For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol,
    nor let your devout one see the pit.[e](D)
11 You will show me the path to life,
    abounding joy in your presence,
    the delights at your right hand forever.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 16 In the first section, the psalmist rejects the futile worship of false gods (Ps 16:2–5), preferring Israel’s God (Ps 16:1), the giver of the land (Ps 16:6). The second section reflects on the wise and life-giving presence of God (Ps 16:7–11).
  2. 16:1 Miktam: a term occurring six times in Psalm superscriptions, always with “David.” Its meaning is unknown.
  3. 16:4 Take their names: to use the gods’ names in oaths and hence to affirm them as one’s own gods.
  4. 16:6 Pleasant places were measured out for me: the psalmist is pleased with the plot of land measured out to the family, which was to be passed on to succeeding generations (“my inheritance”).
  5. 16:10 Nor let your devout one see the pit: Hebrew shahath means here the pit, a synonym for Sheol, the underworld. The Greek translation derives the word here and elsewhere from the verb shahath, “to be corrupt.” On the basis of the Greek, Acts 2:25–32; 13:35–37 apply the verse to Christ’s resurrection, “Nor will you suffer your holy one to see corruption.”

Song of Trust and Security in God

A Miktam of David.

16 Preserve me, O God, for in thee I take refuge.
    I say to the Lord, “Thou art my Lord;
    I have no good apart from thee.”[a]

As for the saints in the land, they are the noble,
    in whom is all my delight.

Those who choose another god multiply their sorrows;[b]
    their libations of blood I will not pour out
    or take their names upon my lips.

The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup;
    thou holdest my lot.
The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
    yea, I have a goodly heritage.

I bless the Lord who gives me counsel;
    in the night also my heart instructs me.
I keep the Lord always before me;
    because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.

Therefore my heart is glad, and my soul rejoices;
    my body also dwells secure.
10 For thou dost not give me up to Sheol,
    or let thy godly one see the Pit.

11 Thou dost show me the path of life;
    in thy presence there is fulness of joy,
    in thy right hand are pleasures for evermore.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 16:2 Jerome Tg: The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain
  2. Psalm 16:4 Cn: The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain

A Prayer of Confidence[a]

16 Protect me, O God; I trust in you for safety.
I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord;
    all the good things I have come from you.”

How excellent are the Lord's faithful people!
    My greatest pleasure is to be with them.

Those who rush to other gods
    bring many troubles on themselves.[b]
I will not take part in their sacrifices;
    I will not worship their gods.

You, Lord, are all I have,
    and you give me all I need;
    my future is in your hands.
How wonderful are your gifts to me;
    how good they are!

I praise the Lord, because he guides me,
    and in the night my conscience warns me.
I am always aware of the Lord's presence;
    he is near, and nothing can shake me.

And so I am thankful and glad,
    and I feel completely secure,
10 (A)because you protect me from the power of death.
I have served you faithfully,
    and you will not abandon me to the world of the dead.

11 (B)You will show me the path that leads to life;
    your presence fills me with joy
    and brings me pleasure forever.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 16:1 HEBREW TITLE: A psalm by David.
  2. Psalm 16:4 Probable text Those … themselves; Hebrew unclear.

The Lord, the Psalmist’s Portion in Life and Salvation in Death.

A [a]Mikhtam of David.

16 (A)Protect me, God, for (B)I take refuge in You.
[b]I said to the Lord, “You are [c]my Lord;
I (C)have nothing good besides You.”
As for the [d](D)saints who are on the earth,
[e]They are the majestic ones; (E)all my delight is in them.
[f]The (F)pains of those who have acquired another god will be multiplied;
I will not pour out their drink offerings of (G)blood,
Nor will I (H)take their names upon my lips.

The Lord is the (I)portion of my inheritance and my (J)cup;
You support my (K)lot.
The measuring (L)lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
Indeed, my inheritance is (M)beautiful to me.

I will bless the Lord who has (N)advised me;
Indeed, my [g](O)mind instructs me in the night.
(P)I have (Q)set the Lord continually before me;
Because He is (R)at my right hand, (S)I will not be shaken.
Therefore (T)my heart is glad and (U)my glory rejoices;
My flesh also will (V)dwell securely.
10 For You (W)will not abandon my soul to [h]Sheol;
You will not [i](X)allow Your [j]Holy One to [k]undergo decay.
11 You will make known to me (Y)the way of life;
In (Z)Your presence is fullness of joy;
In Your right hand there are (AA)pleasures forever.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 16 Title Possibly Epigrammatic Poem or Atonement Psalm
  2. Psalm 16:2 Or O my soul, you said
  3. Psalm 16:2 Or the Lord
  4. Psalm 16:3 Lit holy ones; i.e., God’s people
  5. Psalm 16:3 Lit They, even the
  6. Psalm 16:4 Lit Their pains, they who acquired
  7. Psalm 16:7 Lit kidneys, figurative for inner man
  8. Psalm 16:10 I.e., the netherworld
  9. Psalm 16:10 Lit give
  10. Psalm 16:10 Or godly one
  11. Psalm 16:10 Or see corruption; or the pit

Psalm 16

A miktam[a] of David.

Keep me safe,(A) my God,
    for in you I take refuge.(B)

I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord;(C)
    apart from you I have no good thing.”(D)
I say of the holy people(E) who are in the land,(F)
    “They are the noble ones in whom is all my delight.”
Those who run after other gods(G) will suffer(H) more and more.
    I will not pour out libations of blood to such gods
    or take up their names(I) on my lips.

Lord, you alone are my portion(J) and my cup;(K)
    you make my lot(L) secure.
The boundary lines(M) have fallen for me in pleasant places;
    surely I have a delightful inheritance.(N)
I will praise the Lord, who counsels me;(O)
    even at night(P) my heart instructs me.
I keep my eyes always on the Lord.
    With him at my right hand,(Q) I will not be shaken.(R)

Therefore my heart is glad(S) and my tongue rejoices;
    my body also will rest secure,(T)
10 because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead,(U)
    nor will you let your faithful[b] one(V) see decay.(W)
11 You make known to me the path of life;(X)
    you will fill me with joy in your presence,(Y)
    with eternal pleasures(Z) at your right hand.(AA)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 16:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
  2. Psalm 16:10 Or holy