The Path of Life
Psalm 16 summary: what it means
Psalm 16 is a psalm of trust. It opens with one short request, preserve me, and then spends almost every line explaining why the speaker feels safe. The LORD is named as the only good thing, the one who assigned their portion and cup and made their lot secure. Other gods are rejected in verse 4. In verse 6 the speaker looks at what they have been given and calls it a good inheritance in pleasant places.
The second half moves from possession to presence. The speaker keeps the LORD always in view, and because he is at their right hand, they will not be moved. Heart and tongue are glad, and the body dwells in safety. The psalm ends looking past death: the soul will not be left in Sheol, and God will show the path of life, with fullness of joy in his presence.
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Psalm 16: The Path of Life
World English Bible, public domain. allpsalms.com/psalm-16
Psalm 16 commentary: explained verse by verse
Preserve me, God, for I take refuge in you.
Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust.
The only direct request in the psalm comes first. The speaker asks to be kept safe and gives the reason at once: I take refuge in you. Everything after this explains why that refuge is trusted.
Also read Psalm 56:1, Psalm 9:10, 2 Timothy 1:12, Psalm 146:5
My soul, you have said to the LORD, “You are my Lord.Apart from you I have no good thing.”
O my soul, thou hast said unto the LORD, Thou art my Lord: my goodness extendeth not to thee;
The speaker addresses their own soul and recalls what it has said to the LORD. Apart from you I have no good thing is a claim of total dependence, not a complaint about lacking anything.
Also read Psalm 73:25, Isaiah 44:5, Zechariah 13:9, Psalm 31:14
As for the saints who are on the earth,they are the excellent ones in whom is all my delight.
But to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight.
Attention turns to other people. The saints on the earth are called the excellent ones, and the speaker takes delight in them. Trust in God sits alongside affection for his people.
Also read Hebrews 6:10, Ephesians 5:25-27, Psalm 116:15, Ephesians 1:1
Their 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.
Their sorrows shall be multiplied that hasten after another god: their drink offerings of blood will I not offer, nor take up their names into my lips.
This is the psalm's one warning. Those who give gifts to another god will multiply their own sorrows. The speaker refuses to take part in their offerings or even to say the names of their gods.
Also read Leviticus 23:13, Jonah 2:8, Psalm 32:10, Psalm 97:7
The LORD assigned my portion and my cup.You made my lot secure.
The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot.
In the World English Bible the LORD assigns the speaker's portion and cup, the share given to them, and makes their lot secure. The KJV puts it more strongly: the LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup.
Also read Isaiah 42:1, Psalm 142:5, Psalm 11:6, Psalm 89:4
The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places.Yes, I have a good inheritance.
The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage.
The lines are the measured boundaries of the speaker's share, and they have fallen in pleasant places. The speaker looks at what they have been given and calls it a good inheritance.
Also read John 20:17, 1 Corinthians 3:21-23, Revelation 3:21, Hebrews 12:2
I will bless the LORD, who has given me counsel.Yes, my heart instructs me in the night seasons.
I will bless the LORD, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons.
The speaker blesses the LORD for giving counsel. Even in the night seasons their heart keeps instructing them, so the guidance goes on after the day is over.
Also read Psalm 119:55, Jeremiah 12:2, Psalm 73:24, Isaiah 26:9
I have set the LORD always before me.Because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
This is the centre of the psalm. The speaker deliberately keeps the LORD in view at all times, and with God at their right hand they will not be moved. The KJV reads: I have set the LORD always before me.
Also read Psalm 139:18, Psalm 109:31, Hebrews 11:27, Psalm 15:5
Therefore my heart is glad, and my tongue rejoices.My body shall also dwell in safety.
Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.
Because of verse 8, heart and tongue are glad. The body is included too: it will dwell in safety. The psalm treats the whole person as protected, not only the inner life.
Also read Proverbs 14:32, Job 19:26-27, Acts 2:26, Luke 10:21-22
For you will not leave my soul in Sheol,neither will you allow your holy one to see corruption.
For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
The speaker says God will not leave their soul in Sheol, the place of the dead, and will not let his holy one see corruption. It is the psalm's boldest claim, reaching beyond danger in this life.
Also read Psalm 139:8, Isaiah 5:14, Acts 3:14-15, Proverbs 27:20
You will show me the path of life.In your presence is fullness of joy.In your right hand there are pleasures forever more.
Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
The psalm ends with three promises. God will show the path of life, his presence holds fullness of joy, and at his right hand there are pleasures forever. Right hand returns from verse 8, but there God is at the speaker's right hand; here it is God's own right hand, a place of joy.
Also read Proverbs 2:19, Jude 1:24, 1 Peter 3:22, Ephesians 3:19
A prayer from Psalm 16
Preserve me, God, for I take refuge in you. You are my Lord. Apart from you I have no good thing. You have assigned my portion and my cup, and you make my lot secure. The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places. I bless you for your counsel, even in the night. I set you always before me. Because you are at my right hand, I will not be moved. So my heart is glad. Show me the path of life. In your presence is fullness of joy. Amen.
Psalm 16 Bible study questions
- In verse 2, what does the speaker say to the LORD about good things?
- Verses 5 and 6 use the words portion, cup, lot, lines and inheritance; what picture do these words build together?
- Verse 8 says I have set the LORD always before me; what might that look like in an ordinary day?
- Verse 7 says the speaker's heart instructs him in the night seasons; what tends to come to your mind at night?
- In the KJV, Psalm 16:5 calls the LORD the portion of the speaker's inheritance; how does Psalm 73:26 use the same word?
Questions about Psalm 16
What does Psalm 16 mean?
It is a psalm of trust. The speaker asks God for protection and then explains why they feel secure: the LORD assigned their portion, gives them counsel and is at their right hand, and his presence brings fullness of joy.
Who wrote Psalm 16?
The heading attributes it to David: "A Poem by David". In the King James Version the heading reads "Michtam of David".
What does Psalm 16:8 say in the KJV?
"I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved."
What does Psalm 16:5 mean?
In the World English Bible it says the LORD assigned the speaker's portion and cup, the share they have been given, and made their lot secure. The KJV reads "The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot".
What does Psalm 16:6 mean?
The speaker says the boundary lines of their share have fallen in pleasant places and that they have a good inheritance. It is a statement of contentment with what God has given. The KJV reads "a goodly heritage".
What does Psalm 16:11 say?
"You will show me the path of life. In your presence is fullness of joy. In your right hand there are pleasures forever more." It is the last verse of the psalm.
Psalm 16 KJV: the King James Version
Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust.1
O my soul, thou hast said unto the LORD, Thou art my Lord: my goodness extendeth not to thee;2
But to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight.3
Their sorrows shall be multiplied that hasten after another god: their drink offerings of blood will I not offer, nor take up their names into my lips.4
The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot.5
The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage.6
I will bless the LORD, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons.7
I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.8
Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.9
For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.10
Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.11
Psalm 16 in Hebrew
The Hebrew text from the Westminster Leningrad Codex, public domain. Verse numbers follow the Hebrew Bible, which counts a psalm's heading as verse 1, so they can run one ahead of English Bibles.
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1 מִכְתָּ֥ם לְדָוִ֑ד שָֽׁמְרֵ֥נִי אֵ֝֗ל כִּֽי־חָסִ֥יתִי בָֽךְ׃
2 אָמַ֣רְתְּ לַֽ֭יהוָה אֲדֹנָ֣י אָ֑תָּה ט֝וֹבָתִ֗י בַּל־עָלֶֽיךָ׃
3 לִ֭קְדוֹשִׁים אֲשֶׁר־בָּאָ֣רֶץ הֵ֑מָּה וְ֝אַדִּירֵ֗י כָּל־חֶפְצִי־בָֽם׃
4 יִרְבּ֥וּ עַצְּבוֹתָם֮ אַחֵ֪ר מָ֫הָ֥רוּ בַּל־אַסִּ֣יךְ נִסְכֵּיהֶ֣ם מִדָּ֑ם וּֽבַל־אֶשָּׂ֥א אֶת־שְׁ֝מוֹתָ֗ם עַל־שְׂפָתָֽי׃
5 יְֽהוָ֗ה מְנָת־חֶלְקִ֥י וְכוֹסִ֑י אַ֝תָּ֗ה תּוֹמִ֥יךְ גּוֹרָלִֽי׃
6 חֲבָלִ֣ים נָֽפְלוּ־לִ֭י בַּנְּעִמִ֑ים אַף־נַ֝חֲלָ֗ת שָֽׁפְרָ֥ה עָלָֽי׃
7 אֲבָרֵ֗ךְ אֶת־יְ֭הוָה אֲשֶׁ֣ר יְעָצָ֑נִי אַף־לֵ֝יל֗וֹת יִסְּר֥וּנִי כִלְיוֹתָֽי׃
8 שִׁוִּ֬יתִי יְהוָ֣ה לְנֶגְדִּ֣י תָמִ֑יד כִּ֥י מִֽ֝ימִינִ֗י בַּל־אֶמּֽוֹט׃
9 לָכֵ֤ן ׀ שָׂמַ֣ח לִ֭בִּי וַיָּ֣גֶל כְּבוֹדִ֑י אַף־בְּ֝שָׂרִ֗י יִשְׁכֹּ֥ן לָבֶֽטַח׃
10 כִּ֤י ׀ לֹא־תַעֲזֹ֣ב נַפְשִׁ֣י לִשְׁא֑וֹל לֹֽא־תִתֵּ֥ן חֲ֝סִידְךָ֗ לִרְא֥וֹת שָֽׁחַת׃
11 תּֽוֹדִיעֵנִי֮ אֹ֤רַח חַ֫יִּ֥ים שֹׂ֣בַע שְׂ֭מָחוֹת אֶת־פָּנֶ֑יךָ נְעִמ֖וֹת בִּימִינְךָ֣ נֶֽצַח׃
Psalm 16 in the Catholic Douay-Rheims Bible
The Douay-Rheims Bible, 1899 edition, public domain. It follows the Greek and Latin numbering, so this psalm is Psalm 15 there.
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1 The inscription of a title to David himself. Preserve me, O Lord, for I have put trust in thee.
2 I have said to the Lord, thou art my God, for thou hast no need of my goods.
3 To the saints, who are in his land, he hath made wonderful all my desires in them.
4 Their infirmities were multiplied: afterwards they made haste. I will not gather together their meetings for blood offerings: nor will I be mindful of their names by my lips.
5 The Lord is the portion of my inheritance and of my cup: it is thou that wilt restore my inheritance to me.
6 The lines are fallen unto me in goodly places: for my inheritance is goodly to me.
7 I will bless the Lord, who hath given me understanding: moreover my reins also have corrected me even till night.
8 I set the Lord always in my sight: for he is at my right hand, that I be not moved.
9 Therefore my heart hath been glad, and my tongue hath rejoiced: moreover my flesh also shall rest in hope.
10 Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; nor wilt then give thy holy one to see corruption.
11 Thou hast made known to me the ways of life, thou shalt fill me with joy with thy countenance: at thy right hand are delights even to the end.
Psalm 16 in Latin
The Clementine Vulgate, public domain, where this psalm is Psalm 15.
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1 Tituli inscriptio, ipsi David. Conserva me, Domine, quoniam speravi in te.
2 Dixi Domino: Deus meus es tu, quoniam bonorum meorum non eges.
3 Sanctis qui sunt in terra ejus, mirificavit omnes voluntates meas in eis.
4 Multiplicatæ sunt infirmitates eorum: postea acceleraverunt. Non congregabo conventicula eorum de sanguinibus, nec memor ero nominum eorum per labia mea.
5 Dominus pars hæreditatis meæ, et calicis mei: tu es qui restitues hæreditatem meam mihi.
6 Funes ceciderunt mihi in præclaris; etenim hæreditas mea præclara est mihi.
7 Benedicam Dominum qui tribuit mihi intellectum; insuper et usque ad noctem increpuerunt me renes mei.
8 Providebam Dominum in conspectu meo semper: quoniam a dextris est mihi, ne commovear.
9 Propter hoc lætatum est cor meum, et exsultavit lingua mea; insuper et caro mea requiescet in spe.
10 Quoniam non derelinques animam meam in inferno, nec dabis sanctum tuum videre corruptionem. Notas mihi fecisti vias vitæ; adimplebis me lætitia cum vultu tuo: delectationes in dextera tua usque in finem.
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Psalm 16 at a glance
| Verses | 11 |
| Heading in the text | A Poem by David. |
| Attributed to | The heading attributes it to David: "A Poem by David". The King James Version gives the heading as "Michtam of David". |
| Type | Trust |
| Number in Greek and Latin Bibles | Psalm 15 |
Read Psalm 16 when you are facing
trusting godprotectionguidance
Psalm 16 in other translations
This page prints the World English Bible and the King James Version because both are public domain. The NIV, ESV, NKJV, NLT and NASB are under copyright, so they cannot be printed in full here. You can read Psalm 16 in those translations at Bible Gateway.
Where Psalm 16 belongs
Psalms of DavidBook 1 of the Psalms
How this page was made
The psalm text comes from public domain translations and is not edited. The summary, the verse notes and the answers are written for this page from the text of the psalm itself. Where a claim goes beyond the text, it is sourced below.
Sources
- Text: World English Bible and King James Version, both public domain, from ebible.org source
- Hebrew text: Westminster Leningrad Codex, public domain, from ebible.org source
- Douay-Rheims: Douay-Rheims Bible, 1899 edition, public domain, from ebible.org source
- Latin text: Clementine Vulgate, public domain, from ebible.org source
- Numbering: Greek and Latin psalm numbering, Wikipedia, Psalms source