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.

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

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

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

4Sorrows 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 2:14BSB references Isaiah 26:3Classic cross-references Psalms 17:8Classic cross-references Psalms 31:23Classic cross-references Psalms 56:1Classic cross-references 2 Timothy 1:12Classic cross-references

Original words

Preserve meשָֽׁמְרֵ֥נִיH8104Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular | first person common singularO Godאֵ֝֗לH410Noun - masculine singularforכִּֽי־H3588Conjunctionin Youבָֽךְ׃Preposition | second person masculine singularI take refugeחָסִ֥יתִיH2620Verb - 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 73:25Classic cross-references Psalms 48:14Classic cross-references Psalms 31:14Classic cross-references Titus 3:8Classic cross-references Job 22:2Classic cross-references

Original words

I saidאָמַ֣רְתְּH559Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person feminine singularto the LORDלַֽ֭יהוָהH3068Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singularYouאָ֑תָּהH859Pronoun - second person masculine singularare my Lordאֲדֹנָ֣יH136Noun - proper - masculine singularapart from Youעָלֶֽיךָ׃H5921Preposition | second person masculine singularI have noבַּל־H1077Adverbgood thingט֝וֹבָתִ֗יH2896Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular

Verse 3

Cross-references

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

Original words

As for the saintsלִ֭קְדוֹשִׁיםH6918Preposition-l | Adjective - masculine plural-אֲשֶׁר־H834Pronoun - relativein the landבָּאָ֣רֶץH776Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singulartheyהֵ֑מָּהH1992Pronoun - third person masculine pluralare the excellenceוְ֝אַדִּירֵ֗יH117Conjunctive waw | Adjective - masculine plural constructin whom allכָּל־H3605Noun - masculine singular constructmy delightחֶפְצִי־H2656Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singularresidesבָֽם׃Preposition | third person masculine plural

Verse 4

Cross-references

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

Original words

Sorrowsעַצְּבוֹתָם֮H6094Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine pluralwill multiplyיִרְבּ֥וּH7235Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine pluralto those who chaseמָ֫הָ֥רוּH4116Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common pluralother godsאַחֵ֪רH312Adjective - masculine singularI will notבַּל־H1077Adverbpour outאַסִּ֣יךְH5258Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - first person common singulartheir libationsנִסְכֵּיהֶ֣םH5262Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine pluralof bloodמִדָּ֑םH1818Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singularorוּֽבַל־H1077Conjunctive waw | Adverbspeakאֶשָּׂ֥אH5375Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markertheir namesשְׁ֝מוֹתָ֗םH8034Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine pluralwithעַל־H5921Prepositionmy lipsשְׂפָתָֽי׃H8193Noun - feminine dual construct | first person common singular

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