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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.
Book name not found: Psalm for the version: SBL Greek New Testament.

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

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