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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.”

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