Old Testament

Psalms 16

Refuge, Portion, and Life

4 passages

Overview

The psalmist — understood as both David and the prophetic voice of Christ — renounces all false gods, declares the living God his sole refuge and inheritance, receives divine counsel with interior joy, and trusts confidently that God will not abandon him to death but will reveal the path of life.

Passages

1–4Declaration of Refuge and Rejection of False Gods 5–6Yahweh as Portion and Inheritance 7–9Blessing, Counsel, and Interior Joy 10–11Hope Beyond Death: The Path of Life

Study Resources

Psalms 16

¹A Poem by David. Preserve me, God, for I take refuge in you.

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

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

⁴Their 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.

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

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

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

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

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

¹⁰For you will not leave my soul in Sheol, neither will you allow your holy one to see corruption.

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

Psalms 15 Psalms 17