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

A special Davidic Psalm.[a]

Trust in the Face of Death

16 Keep me safe, God,
    for I take refuge in you.
I told the Lord,
    “You are my master,[b]
        I have nothing good apart from you.”
As for the saints that are in the land,
    they are noble, and all my delight is in them.
Those who hurry after another god[c] will have many sorrows;
    I will not present[d] their drink offerings of blood,
        nor will my lips speak[e] their names.
The Lord is my inheritance and my cup;
    you support my lot.
The boundary lines have fallen in pleasant places for me;
    truly, I have a beautiful heritage.
I will bless the Lord who has counseled me;
    indeed, my conscience instructs[f] me during the night.
I have set the Lord before me continuously;
    because he stands at my right hand, I will stand firm.[g]
Therefore, my heart is glad,
    my whole being[h] rejoices,
        and my body will dwell securely.
10 For you will not leave my soul in Sheol,[i]
    you will not allow your holy one to experience corruption.[j]

11 You cause me to know the path of life;
    in your presence is joyful abundance,
        at your right hand there are pleasures forever.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 16:1 The Heb. reads miktam
  2. Psalm 16:2 Lit. you are Adonai
  3. Psalm 16:4 The Heb. lacks god
  4. Psalm 16:4 Lit. pour out
  5. Psalm 16:4 Lit. lift up on my lips
  6. Psalm 16:7 Lit. thoughts instruct
  7. Psalm 16:8 Lit. not be shaken
  8. Psalm 16:9 Lit. glory
  9. Psalm 16:10 I.e. the realm of the dead
  10. Psalm 16:10 Lit. to see the Pit; i.e. the realm of punishment in the afterlife