Psalm 16

¹Protect me, O God, for I have taken shelter in you.[#tn The Hebrew perfect verbal form probably refers here to a completed action with continuing results (see 7:1; 11:1).sn Taken shelter. “Taking shelter” in the Lord is an idiom for seeking his protection. Seeking his protection presupposes and even demonstrates the subject’s loyalty to the Lord. In the psalms those who “take shelter” in the Lord are contrasted with the wicked and equated with those who love, fear and serve the Lord (Pss 5:11-12; 31:17-20; 34:21-22).]

²I say to the Lord , “You are the Lord,

my only source of well-being.”

³As for God’s chosen people who are in the land,

and the leading officials I admired so much –

⁴their troubles multiply,

they desire other gods.

I will not pour out drink offerings of blood to their gods,

nor will I make vows in the name of their gods.

⁵Lord , you give me stability and prosperity;[#tn Heb “O Lord, the portion of my possession and my cup”; or “the Lord [is] the portion of my possession and my cup.” The psalmist compares the Lord to landed property, which was foundational to economic stability in ancient Israel, and to a cup of wine, which may symbolize a reward (in Ps 11:6 it symbolizes the judgment one deserves) or divine blessing (see Ps 23:5). The metaphor highlights the fact that God is the psalmist’s source of security and prosperity.]

you make my future secure.

⁶It is as if I have been given fertile fields

or received a beautiful tract of land.

⁷I will praise the Lord who guides me;[#tn Heb “bless,” that is, “proclaim as worthy of praise.”; #tn Or “because.”; #tn Or “counsels, advises.”]

yes, during the night I reflect and learn.

⁸I constantly trust in the Lord ;[#tn Heb “I set the Lord before me continually.” This may mean that the psalmist is aware of the Lord’s presence and sensitive to his moral guidance (see v. 7), or that he trusts in the Lord’s protection (see the following line).]

because he is at my right hand, I will not be upended.

⁹So my heart rejoices

and I am happy;

My life is safe.

¹⁰You will not abandon me to Sheol;[#tn Or “my life.” The suffixed form of נֶפֶשׁ (nefesh, “being”) is often equivalent to a pronoun in poetic texts.; #sn In ancient Israelite cosmology Sheol is the realm of the dead, viewed as being under the earth’s surface. See L. I. J. Stadelmann, The Hebrew Conception of the World, 165-76.]

you will not allow your faithful follower to see the Pit.

¹¹You lead me in the path of life;[#tn Heb “cause me to know”; or “cause me to experience.”; #tn This is a metaphorical way of saying, “you preserve my life.” The phrase “path of life” stands in contrast to death/Sheol in Prov 2:18-19; 5:5-6; 15:24.]

I experience absolute joy in your presence;

you always give me sheer delight.