Psalms 16:1-8

A miktam of David.

1 ^[a]Keep me safe, my God, for in you I take refuge.

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

3 I say of the holy people who are in the land, “They are the noble ones in whom is all my delight.”

4 Those who run after other gods will suffer more and more. I will not pour out libations of blood to such gods or take up their names on my lips.

5 LORD, you alone are my portion and my cup; you make my lot secure.

6 The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance.

7 I will praise the LORD, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me.

8 I keep my eyes always on the LORD. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

Psalms 16:1-8 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 16:1-8 In-Context

1 Keep me safe, my God, for in you I take refuge.

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

3 I say of the holy people who are in the land, “They are the noble ones in whom is all my delight.”

4 Those who run after other gods will suffer more and more. I will not pour out libations of blood to such gods or take up their names on my lips.

5 LORD, you alone are my portion and my cup; you make my lot secure.

6 The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance.

7 I will praise the LORD, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me.

8 I keep my eyes always on the LORD. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

9 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure,

10 because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, nor will you let your faithful one see decay.

11 You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

Cross References

• 1. S Psalms 12:7; Psalms 17:8
• 2. Psalms 2:12; Psalms 7:1
• 3. Psalms 31:14; Psalms 118:28; Psalms 140:6
• 4. Psalms 73:25
• 5. Deuteronomy 33:3; Psalms 30:4; Psalms 85:8; Daniel 7:18; Acts 9:13; Romans 1:7
• 6. Psalms 101:6
• 7. Psalms 32:10; Proverbs 23:29
• 8. Exodus 18:11; Exodus 20:3; S Deuteronomy 8:19; S Deuteronomy 31:20; Psalms 106:37-38
• 9. S Exodus 23:13
• 10. S Leviticus 2:2; Psalms 73:26
• 11. Psalms 23:5; Psalms 75:8; Psalms 116:13; Isaiah 51:17; Lamentations 4:21; Ezekiel 23:32-34; Habakkuk 2:16
• 12. S Job 31:2
• 13. S Deuteronomy 19:14; Psalms 104:9; Proverbs 8:29; Jeremiah 5:22
• 14. S Job 22:26; Psalms 78:55; Jeremiah 3:19
• 15. Psalms 73:24; Proverbs 15:22; Isaiah 11:2
• 16. Job 35:10; Psalms 42:8; Psalms 77:6
• 17. 1 Kings 2:19; 1 Chronicles 6:39; Psalms 73:23
• 18. Psalms 15:5

Footnotes

• [a]. Title: Probably a literary or musical term