Focused Passage

Psalms 16:1-4

Refuge, Fullness of Joy, and the Path of Life

The psalm moves from a plea for preservation and confession of refuge, to delight in the LORD and his people, to rejection of idolatry, to gratitude for the LORD as portion and counselor, and finally to confidence that the LORD will not abandon his holy one to death but will reveal the path of life and fullness of joy.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

A Miktam of David.

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

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

3 As for the saints in the land, they are the excellence in whom all my delight resides.

4 Sorrows will multiply to those who chase other gods. I will not pour out their libations of blood, or speak their names with my lips.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 1

Cross-references

Acts 2:14 BSB references Isaiah 26:3 Classic cross-references Psalms 17:8 Classic cross-references Psalms 31:23 Classic cross-references Psalms 56:1 Classic cross-references 2 Timothy 1:12 Classic cross-references

Original words

Preserve me שָֽׁמְרֵ֥נִי H8104 Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular | first person common singular O God אֵ֝֗ל H410 Noun - masculine singular for כִּֽי־ H3588 Conjunction in You בָֽךְ׃ Preposition | second person masculine singular I take refuge חָסִ֥יתִי H2620 Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular

BSB notes

Miktam is probably a musical or liturgical term; used for Psalm 16 and Psalms 56–60.

Verse 2

Cross-references

Psalms 73:25 Classic cross-references Psalms 48:14 Classic cross-references Psalms 31:14 Classic cross-references Titus 3:8 Classic cross-references Job 22:2 Classic cross-references

Original words

I said אָמַ֣רְתְּ H559 Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person feminine singular to the LORD לַֽ֭יהוָה H3068 Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular You אָ֑תָּה H859 Pronoun - second person masculine singular are my Lord אֲדֹנָ֣י H136 Noun - proper - masculine singular apart from You עָלֶֽיךָ׃ H5921 Preposition | second person masculine singular I have no בַּל־ H1077 Adverb good thing ט֝וֹבָתִ֗י H2896 Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular

Verse 3

Cross-references

Colossians 1:2 Classic cross-references 2 Corinthians 6:14 Classic cross-references Proverbs 13:20 Classic cross-references Proverbs 8:31 Classic cross-references Hebrews 6:10 Classic cross-references

Original words

As for the saints לִ֭קְדוֹשִׁים H6918 Preposition-l | Adjective - masculine plural - אֲשֶׁר־ H834 Pronoun - relative in the land בָּאָ֣רֶץ H776 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular they הֵ֑מָּה H1992 Pronoun - third person masculine plural are the excellence וְ֝אַדִּירֵ֗י H117 Conjunctive waw | Adjective - masculine plural construct in whom all כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct my delight חֶפְצִי־ H2656 Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular resides בָֽם׃ Preposition | third person masculine plural

Verse 4

Cross-references

Exodus 23:13 Classic cross-references Joshua 23:7 Classic cross-references Psalms 32:10 Classic cross-references Psalms 97:7 Classic cross-references Jonah 2:8 Classic cross-references

Original words

Sorrows עַצְּבוֹתָם֮ H6094 Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine plural will multiply יִרְבּ֥וּ H7235 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural to those who chase מָ֫הָ֥רוּ H4116 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural other gods אַחֵ֪ר H312 Adjective - masculine singular I will not בַּל־ H1077 Adverb pour out אַסִּ֣יךְ H5258 Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - first person common singular their libations נִסְכֵּיהֶ֣ם H5262 Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural of blood מִדָּ֑ם H1818 Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular or וּֽבַל־ H1077 Conjunctive waw | Adverb speak אֶשָּׂ֥א H5375 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker their names שְׁ֝מוֹתָ֗ם H8034 Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural with עַל־ H5921 Preposition my lips שְׂפָתָֽי׃ H8193 Noun - feminine dual construct | first person common singular

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