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Psalm 16
Contemporary English Version

(A special psalm by David.)

The Best Choice

1 Protect me, Lord God!
    I run to you for safety,
2 and I have said,
    “Only you are my Lord!
Every good thing I have
    is a gift from you.”

3 Your people are wonderful,
    and they make me happy,[a]
4 but worshipers of other gods
    will have much sorrow.[b]
I refuse to offer sacrifices
of blood to those gods
    or worship in their name.

5 You, Lord, are all I want!
You are my choice,
    and you keep me safe.
6 You make my life pleasant,
    and my future is bright.

7 I praise you, Lord,
    for being my guide.
Even in the darkest night,
    your teachings fill my mind.
8 (A) I will always look to you,
as you stand beside me
    and protect me from fear.
9 With all my heart,
I will celebrate,
    and I can safely rest.

10 (B) I am your chosen one.
You won't leave me in the grave
    or let my body decay.
11 You have shown me
    the path to life,
and you make me glad
    by being near to me.
Sitting at your right side,[c]
    I will always be joyful.

Footnotes

  1. 16.3 Your people … happy: Or “I was happy worshiping gods I thought were powerful.”
  2. 16.4 but … sorrow: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
  3. 16.11 right side: The place of power and honor.
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Psalm 16
New International Version

Psalm 16

A miktam[a] of David.

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

2 I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord;(C)
    apart from you I have no good thing.”(D)
3 I say of the holy people(E) who are in the land,(F)
    “They are the noble ones in whom is all my delight.”
4 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.

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

9 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
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Psalm 15
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