Psalms 16:1-5

1 Preserve me, O God, for in you I ¹take refuge.

2 I say to the LORD, "You are my Lord; ²I have no good apart from you."

3 As for ³the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight.^[a]

4 The sorrows of those who run after^[b] another god shall multiply; their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out or ⁴take their names on my lips.

5 The LORD is ⁵my chosen portion and my ⁶cup; you hold my ⁷lot.

Psalms 16:1-5 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 16:1-5 In-Context

1 Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge.

2 I say to the LORD, "You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you."

3 As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight.

4 The sorrows of those who run after another god shall multiply; their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out or take their names on my lips.

5 The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot.

6 The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.

7 I bless the LORD who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me.

8 I have set the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.

9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure.

Cross References

• 1. See Psalms 11:1
• 2. [Psalms 73:25]
• 3. [Exodus 19:6; Deuteronomy 7:6; 1 Peter 2:9]
• 4. Exodus 23:13; Joshua 23:7
• 5. Psalms 73:26; Psalms 119:57; Psalms 142:5; Numbers 18:20; Lamentations 3:24; [Deuteronomy 32:9; Jeremiah 10:16; Jeremiah 51:19]
• 6. Psalms 23:5; Psalms 116:13
• 7. Psalms 125:3

Footnotes

• [a]. Or To the saints in the land, the excellent in whom is all my delight, I say:
• [b]. Or who acquire