Psalm 16

Confidence in the Lord

A Miktam of David.(A)

Protect me, God, for I take refuge in you.(B)
I[a] said to the Lord, “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 bless the Lord who counsels me(H)
even at night when my thoughts trouble me.[d](I)
I always let the Lord guide me.[e]
Because he is at my right hand,
I will not be shaken.(J)

Therefore my heart is glad
and my whole being 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)
at your right hand are eternal pleasures.(O)

Psalm 17

A Prayer for Protection

A prayer of David.

Lord, hear a just cause;(P)
pay attention to my cry;
listen to my prayer—
from lips free of deceit.(Q)
Let my vindication come from you,
for you see what is right.(R)
You have tested my heart;(S)
you have examined me at night.
You have tried me and found nothing evil;(T)
I have determined that my mouth will not sin.[f]
Concerning what people do:
by the words from your lips
I have avoided the ways of the violent.(U)
My steps are on your paths;
my feet have not slipped.(V)

I call on you, God,
because you will answer me;(W)
listen closely to me; hear what I say.
Display the wonders of your faithful love,(X)
Savior of all who seek refuge(Y)
from those who rebel against your right hand.[g]
Protect me as the pupil of your eye;(Z)
hide me in the shadow of your wings(AA)
from[h] the wicked who treat me violently,[i]
my deadly enemies who surround me.(AB)

10 They are uncaring;[j](AC)
their mouths speak arrogantly.(AD)
11 They advance against me;[k] now they surround me.(AE)
They are determined[l]
to throw me to the ground.(AF)
12 They are[m] like a lion eager to tear,
like a young lion lurking in ambush.(AG)

13 Rise up, Lord!
Confront him; bring him down.(AH)
With your sword, save me from the wicked.(AI)
14 With your hand, Lord, save me from men,
from men of the world
whose portion is in this life:
You fill their bellies with what you have in store;
their sons are satisfied,
and they leave their surplus to their children.(AJ)

15 But I will see your face in righteousness;(AK)
when I awake, I will be satisfied with your presence.[n](AL)

Footnotes

  1. 16:2 Some Hb mss, LXX, Syr, Jer; other Hb mss read You
  2. 16:2 Or “Lord, my good; there is none besides you.”
  3. 16:5 Or allotted portion
  4. 16:7 Or at night my heart instructs me
  5. 16:8 Lit I place the Lord in front of me always
  6. 17:3 Or evil; my mouth will not sin
  7. 17:7 Or love, you who save with your right hand those seeking refuge from adversaries
  8. 17:9 Lit from the presence of
  9. 17:9 Or who plunder me
  10. 17:10 Lit have closed up their fat
  11. 17:11 Vg; MT reads Our steps
  12. 17:11 Lit They set their eyes
  13. 17:12 Lit He is
  14. 17:15 Lit form

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)

Psalm 17

A prayer of David.

Hear me,(AB) Lord, my plea is just;
    listen to my cry.(AC)
Hear(AD) my prayer—
    it does not rise from deceitful lips.(AE)
Let my vindication(AF) come from you;
    may your eyes see what is right.(AG)

Though you probe my heart,(AH)
    though you examine me at night and test me,(AI)
you will find that I have planned no evil;(AJ)
    my mouth has not transgressed.(AK)
Though people tried to bribe me,
    I have kept myself from the ways of the violent
    through what your lips have commanded.
My steps have held to your paths;(AL)
    my feet have not stumbled.(AM)

I call on you, my God, for you will answer me;(AN)
    turn your ear to me(AO) and hear my prayer.(AP)
Show me the wonders of your great love,(AQ)
    you who save by your right hand(AR)
    those who take refuge(AS) in you from their foes.
Keep me(AT) as the apple of your eye;(AU)
    hide me(AV) in the shadow of your wings(AW)
from the wicked who are out to destroy me,
    from my mortal enemies who surround me.(AX)

10 They close up their callous hearts,(AY)
    and their mouths speak with arrogance.(AZ)
11 They have tracked me down, they now surround me,(BA)
    with eyes alert, to throw me to the ground.
12 They are like a lion(BB) hungry for prey,(BC)
    like a fierce lion crouching in cover.

13 Rise up,(BD) Lord, confront them, bring them down;(BE)
    with your sword rescue me from the wicked.
14 By your hand save me from such people, Lord,
    from those of this world(BF) whose reward is in this life.(BG)
May what you have stored up for the wicked fill their bellies;
    may their children gorge themselves on it,
    and may there be leftovers(BH) for their little ones.

15 As for me, I will be vindicated and will see your face;
    when I awake,(BI) I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness.(BJ)

Footnotes

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