Psalms Chapter 16

From The Open Bible Project

A Poem by David.

16:1 Preserve me, God, for in you do I take refuge.

  • (a) He shows that we cannot call on God unless we trust in him.


16:2 My soul, you have said to Yahweh, "You are my Lord. Apart from you I have no good thing."

  • (b) Though we cannot enrich God, yet we must bestow God’s gifts for the use of his children.


16:3 As for the saints who are in the earth, they are the excellent ones in whom is all my delight.

16:4 Their sorrows shall be multiplied who give gifts to another god. Their drink offerings of blood I will not offer, nor take their names on my lips.

  • (c) As grief of conscience and miserable destruction.

(d) He would neither by outward profession nor in heart, nor in mouth consent to their idolatries.


16:5 Yahweh assigned my portion and my cup. You made my lot secure.

16:6 The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places. Yes, I have a good inheritance.

  • (e) With which my portion is measured.


16:7 I will bless Yahweh, who has given me counsel. Yes, my heart instructs me in the night seasons.

16:8 I have set Yahweh always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.

  • (g) The faithful are sure to persevere to the end.


16:9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my tongue rejoices. My body shall also dwell in safety.

  • (h) That is, I rejoice both in body and in soul.


16:10 For you will not leave my soul in [9] Sheol [See Psalms Footnotes 9], neither will you allow your holy one to see corruption.

  • (i) This is chiefly meant by Christ, by whose resurrection all his members have immortality.


16:11 You will show me the path of life. In your presence is fullness of joy. In your right hand there are pleasures forevermore.

  • (k) Where God favours there is perfect happiness.