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Psalms 16

BSB·11 verses ·Old Testament
✦ Tap any verse to open Scripture Explorer — original Hebrew/Greek, commentary, notes & highlights
1Preserve meשָֽׁמְרֵ֥נִיšā·mə·rê·nî — To guard, keep, observe, preserveH8104 — Full Word Study →, O Godאֵ֝֗ל’êl — God, Mighty OneH410 — Full Word Study →, forכִּֽי־kî- — because, since, that (conjunction/reason marker)H3588 — Full Word Study → in You I take refugeחָסִ֥יתִיḥā·sî·ṯî — To take refuge; to seek shelter or safetyH2620 — Full Word Study →. 2I saidאָמַ֣רְתְּ’ā·mart — to say, speak, declareH559 — Full Word Study → to the LORDלַֽ֭יהוָהYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study →, “Youאָ֑תָּה’āt·tāh — You; second-person pronoun (singular or plural)H859 — Full Word Study → are my Lordאֲדֹנָ֣י’ă·ḏō·nāy — Master, LordH136 — Full Word Study →; apart from Youעָלֶֽיךָ׃‘ā·le·ḵā — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study → I have noבַּל־bal- — not, lest, nothingH1077 — Full Word Study → good thingט֝וֹבָתִ֗יṭō·w·ḇā·ṯî — good, beneficial, pleasing, wellH2896 — Full Word Study →.” 3As for the saintsלִ֭קְדוֹשִׁיםliq·ḏō·wō·šîm — Set apart, consecrated, sacredH6918 — Full Word Study → in the landבָּאָ֣רֶץbā·’ā·reṣ — Land, earth, or countryH776 — Full Word Study →, theyהֵ֑מָּהhêm·māh — They, them (masculine plural pronoun)H1992 — Full Word Study → are the excellenceוְ֝אַדִּירֵ֗יwə·’ad·dî·rê — Mighty, noble, excellent, worthy of honorH117 — Full Word Study → in whom allכָּל־kāl- — All, every, whole, totalityH3605 — Full Word Study → my delightחֶפְצִי־ḥep̄·ṣî- — Pleasure, desire, delight, or purposeH2656 — Full Word Study → resides. 4Sorrowsעַצְּבוֹתָם֮‘aṣ·ṣə·ḇō·w·ṯām — sorrow, pain, or injuryH6094 — Full Word Study → will multiplyיִרְבּ֥וּyir·bū — To increase, multiply, grow abundantH7235 — Full Word Study → to those who chaseמָ֫הָ֥רוּmā·hā·rū — to hurry, hasten, make hasteH4116 — Full Word Study → other godsאַחֵ֪ר’a·ḥêr — another, different, or following person or thingH312 — Full Word Study →. I will notבַּל־bal- — not, lest, nothingH1077 — Full Word Study → pour outאַסִּ֣יךְ’as·sîḵ — Pour out; cast metal; anointH5258 — Full Word Study → their libationsנִסְכֵּיהֶ֣םnis·kê·hem — Drink offering; libation poured out in worshipH5262 — Full Word Study → of bloodמִדָּ֑םmid·dām — blood; life force; bloodshed; guiltH1818 — Full Word Study →, orוּֽבַל־ū·ḇal- — not, lest, nothingH1077 — Full Word Study → speakאֶשָּׂ֥א’eś·śā — To lift up, raise, or bear; to carry or supportH5375 — Full Word Study → their namesשְׁ֝מוֹתָ֗םšə·mô·t̲ām — Name; reputation; renownH8034 — Full Word Study → withעַל־‘al- — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study → my lipsשְׂפָתָֽי׃śə·p̄ā·ṯāy — Lips; edge, border, or shoreH8193 — Full Word Study →. 5The LORDיְֽהוָ֗הYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study → is my chosen portion and my cupוְכוֹסִ֑יwə·ḵō·w·sî — Cup; a drinking vessel; one's lot or destinyH3563 — Full Word Study →; Youאַ֝תָּ֗ה’at·tāh — You; second-person pronoun (singular or plural)H859 — Full Word Study → have madeתּוֹמִ֥יךְtō·w·mîḵ — to grasp, hold, or sustainH8551 — Full Word Study → my lot secure. 6The linesחֲבָלִ֣יםḥă·ḇā·lîm — Rope, cord, line; inheritance; pain, sorrowH2256 — Full Word Study → of my boundary have fallenנָֽפְלוּ־nā·p̄ə·lū- — to fall; collapse; perishH5307 — Full Word Study → in pleasant placesבַּנְּעִמִ֑יםban·nə·‘i·mîm — Pleasant, delightful, agreeableH5273 — Full Word Study →; surelyאַף־’ap̄- — Also, moreover, even, indeedH637 — Full Word Study → myעָלָֽי׃‘ā·lāy — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study → inheritanceנַ֝חֲלָ֗תna·ḥă·lāṯ — Inheritance; received possession or propertyH5159 — Full Word Study → is delightfulשָֽׁפְרָ֥הšā·p̄ə·rāh — to make smooth, polish; to beautify or adornH8231 — Full Word Study →. 7I will blessאֲבָרֵ֗ךְ’ă·ḇā·rêḵ — to bless, kneel, praiseH1288 — Full Word Study → the LORDיְ֭הוָהYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study → whoאֲשֶׁ֣ר’ă·šer — who, which, that; when, where, becauseH834 — Full Word Study → counsels meיְעָצָ֑נִיyə·‘ā·ṣā·nî — to advise, counsel, or devise a planH3289 — Full Word Study →; evenאַף־’ap̄- — Also, moreover, even, indeedH637 — Full Word Study → at nightלֵ֝יל֗וֹתlê·lō·wṯ — Night, darkness, the period of darknessH3915 — Full Word Study → my conscienceכִלְיוֹתָֽי׃ḵil·yō·w·ṯāy — Kidney; seat of emotion and conscienceH3629 — Full Word Study → instructs meיִסְּר֥וּנִיyis·sə·rū·nî — To discipline, correct, or instruct through rebuke or punishmentH3256 — Full Word Study →. 8I have setשִׁוִּ֬יתִיšiw·wî·ṯî — to level, equalize, make equal or suitableH7737 — Full Word Study → the LORDיְהוָ֣הYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study → alwaysתָמִ֑ידṯā·mîḏ — continually, perpetually, alwaysH8548 — Full Word Study → before meלְנֶגְדִּ֣יlə·neḡ·dî — before, in front of, in the presence ofH5048 — Full Word Study →. Becauseכִּ֥יkî — because, since, that (conjunction/reason marker)H3588 — Full Word Study → He is at my right handמִֽ֝ימִינִ֗יmî·mî·nî — right hand, right side, southH3225 — Full Word Study →, I will notבַּל־bal- — not, lest, nothingH1077 — Full Word Study → be shakenאֶמּֽוֹט׃’em·mō·wṭ — to shake, move, slip, or fall awayH4131 — Full Word Study →. 9Thereforeלָכֵ֤ן׀lā·ḵên — so, thus, rightly, thereforeH3651 — Full Word Study → my heartלִ֭בִּיlib·bî — Heart; the center of emotion, will, and intellectH3820 — Full Word Study → is gladשָׂמַ֣חśā·maḥ — To rejoice, be glad, make merryH8055 — Full Word Study → and my tongueכְּבוֹדִ֑יkə·ḇō·w·ḏî — weightiness, honor, splendor, gloryH3519 — Full Word Study → rejoicesוַיָּ֣גֶלway·yā·ḡel — to rejoice, be glad, exultH1523 — Full Word Study →; my bodyבְּ֝שָׂרִ֗יbə·śā·rî — Flesh; body; meat; human natureH1320 — Full Word Study → alsoאַף־’ap̄- — Also, moreover, even, indeedH637 — Full Word Study → will dwellיִשְׁכֹּ֥ןyiš·kōn — To dwell, inhabit, or settle in a placeH7931 — Full Word Study → securelyלָבֶֽטַח׃lā·ḇe·ṭaḥ — Security, confidence, trust, or safetyH983 — Full Word Study →. 10Forכִּ֤י׀kî — because, since, that (conjunction/reason marker)H3588 — Full Word Study → You will notלֹא־lō- — not; negation; absenceH3808 — Full Word Study → abandonתַעֲזֹ֣בṯa·‘ă·zōḇ — to abandon, forsake, or leave behindH5800 — Full Word Study → my soulנַפְשִׁ֣יnap̄·šî — soul, life, person, selfH5315 — Full Word Study → to Sheolלִשְׁא֑וֹלliš·’ō·wl — The grave; the abode of the dead; the underworldH7585 — Full Word Study →, nor will Youלֹֽא־lō- — not; negation; absenceH3808 — Full Word Study → letתִתֵּ֥ןṯit·tên — to give, grant, or bestowH5414 — Full Word Study → Your Holy Oneחֲ֝סִידְךָ֗ḥă·sî·ḏə·ḵā — The pious one; one characterized by faithfulness and covenant loyaltyH2623 — Full Word Study → seeלִרְא֥וֹתlir·’ō·wṯ — to see, perceive, behold, experienceH7200 — Full Word Study → decayשָֽׁחַת׃šå̄·ḥaṯ — Pit, grave, or destruction; the grave or hellH7845 — Full Word Study →. 11You have made known to meתּֽוֹדִיעֵנִי֮tō·w·ḏî·‘ê·nî — to know, understand, perceiveH3045 — Full Word Study → the pathאֹ֤רַח’ō·raḥ — Way, path, or manner of travelingH734 — Full Word Study → of lifeחַ֫יִּ֥יםḥay·yîm — alive, living, lifeH2416 — Full Word Study →; You will fill meשֹׂ֣בַעśō·ḇa‘ — Satiety, fullness, abundance of satisfactionH7648 — Full Word Study → with joyשְׂ֭מָחוֹתśə·mā·ḥôt̲ — Joy, gladness, rejoicingH8057 — Full Word Study → in Your presenceפָּנֶ֑יךָpā·ne·ḵā — face; presence; beforeH6440 — Full Word Study →, with eternalנֶֽצַח׃ne·ṣaḥ — perpetual strength; eternal enduranceH5331 — Full Word Study → pleasuresנְעִמ֖וֹתnə·‘i·mō·wṯ — Pleasant, delightful, agreeableH5273 — Full Word Study → at Your right handבִּימִינְךָ֣bî·mî·nə·ḵā — right hand, right side, southH3225 — Full Word Study →.
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Chapter Commentary — Psalms 16
Chapter Overview

Chapter Overview

Psalm 16 is a declaration of trust in God's protection and a celebration of contentment in Him as our supreme treasure. The psalmist commits himself entirely to the Lord, rejecting the empty pursuits of idolatry and false gods, and affirms that God alone is his inheritance and his joy. This psalm beautifully captures the heart of biblical faith: wholehearted devotion to God that produces both security and satisfaction. The New Testament identifies this psalm as having messianic significance, particularly verse 10, which Peter applied to Christ's resurrection on the Day of Pentecost.

Verses 1–5: Complete Trust and Singular Devotion

The psalmist opens with a cry for preservation based on his trust in God (verse 1). He then addresses his own soul, reminding himself that he has made a covenant commitment to the Lord (verse 2). The phrase "my goodness extendeth not to thee" is crucial: the psalmist acknowledges that he has nothing inherently good to offer God—his righteousness does not add to God's perfection. Instead, his delight is in God's saints and the excellent people of God (verse 3).

Verses 4 and 5 draw a sharp contrast. Those who chase after other gods will experience multiplied sorrows; the psalmist will not join them. He refuses even to speak the names of false gods, demonstrating radical separation from idolatry. By contrast, he declares that the Lord is his portion and his cup—using imagery of inheritance and sustenance. God maintains his lot, meaning the Lord actively secures and sustains his life. This is the heart of biblical contentment: God Himself is enough.

Application: We live in an age of competing gods—success, comfort, approval, pleasure. Like this psalmist, we must regularly examine our hearts and ask: What am I actually trusting in? What brings me joy? The path to peace is declaring with full conviction that Jesus is our Lord and our portion, rejecting the hollow promises of the world.

Verses 6–8: Joy in God's Guidance

The psalmist reflects on how God has blessed his circumstances (verse 6). The lines fallen unto me in pleasant places refers to the surveyor's measuring line used to divide land—a vivid image suggesting that God Himself has marked out a good inheritance for him. He has a goodly heritage, not because of his circumstances alone, but because God has given it.

Verse 7 reveals the source of his confidence: the Lord has given him counsel, and even his reins (his innermost self, his conscience) instruct him in the night seasons. God's wisdom comes through both His Word and the inward work of His Spirit. Verse 8 expresses the practice that sustains all this: "I have set the Lord always before me." This is the discipline of God's presence—consistently remembering that He stands at our right hand, the position of strength and protection in Scripture. The result is stability: "I shall not be moved."

Application: Spiritual joy and stability are not automatic; they require the discipline of keeping God central in our thoughts. Daily practices—prayer, Scripture reading, worship—are not obligations but lifelines that keep us steady in an unstable world.

Verses 9–11: Resurrection Hope and Eternal Joy

The psalmist's confidence produces gladness (verse 9). His heart, glory, and flesh all rejoice and rest in hope. Verse 10 contains the psalm's most profound promise: "Thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption." While this had immediate comfort for the original psalmist, Peter and the apostles understood this as a direct prophecy of Christ's resurrection. Jesus, as God's Holy One, would not remain in Sheol, and His body would not experience decay.

Verse 11 concludes with the believer's ultimate inheritance: God will show us the path of life itself. In God's presence is fulness of joy, and at His right hand are pleasures for evermore—eternal, unending satisfaction in communion with God.

Application: Because Christ rose from the dead, His resurrection becomes our hope. We need not fear death or judgment; our future is secure in Him.

Application for Today

Psalm 16 calls us to radical faith: to trust God completely, to reject the world's false gods, and to find our deepest joy in His presence. In a culture offering endless substitutes for satisfaction, we must remember that God alone is our true inheritance. When we set Him always before us, we discover the joy and stability the psalmist describes—not because circumstances become perfect, but because we belong to a perfect God whose presence is our greatest treasure.

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