Psalm 16/Full

Authorship

This Psalm was authored by David.

Outline

(This began as Wendland's Expository Outline, but may be adapted.)

I. The prayer for preservation. Preserve me oh God. (1) II. The practices that assure preservation. (2-4)

A. Proper confession: Acknowledging the Lord.

“My goodness extendeth not to thee” means, literally, “Apart from thee, I have no good thing.”

B. Proper companions: Delighting in the saints (separated ones) and excellent ones.

C. Proper commitment: Avoiding other gods.

III. The present pleasures resulting from being preserved by God. (5-9)

A. The Lord is the portion of your inheritance.

B. Your lot (case) is maintained by God.

C. God’s lines fall unto you in pleasant places.

D. You will have a goodly heritage.

E. God will give you counsel: You will be instructed in the night seasons of your life.

F. The Lord will be set before you.

G. He will be at your right hand.

H. You will not be moved.

I. Your heart is glad.

J. Your glory rejoices.

IV. The future pleasures resulting from being preserved in God. (9-11)

A. Your flesh shall rest in hope.

B. Your soul will not be left in hell because the Holy One (Jesus) did not see corruption.

C. You will be preserved in the path of life.

D. You will find fulness of joy in God’s presence.

E. You will find pleasures forevermore at God’s right hand.

Textual Criticism

The following is from Barthélemy's Critique textuelle de l’Ancien Testament volume on the Psalms. For a key to the various symbols and abbreviations, click here.

Ps 16,2a cor אָמַרְתִּי {C} G, S // lic: Hebr / glos: T / err-voc: MT אָמַרְתְּ

Ps 16,2b-3 בַּל־עָלֶֽיךָ לִקְדוֹשִׁים {B} MT, G, α' // exeg: σ', Hebr, T / incert: S

3A {C} וְאַדִּירֵי MT, 4Q177 // incert: G / assim-ctext: α', θ' / facil-synt: σ', Hebr, S, T

3B {C} חֶפְצִי MT, 4Q177, σ', Hebr, S, T // err-graph: G, α' / err-voc: θ'

Ps 16,4 מָהָרוּ {C} MT, α', // err-voc: G, θ', σ', Hebr, S, T clav: מִהֲרוּ

Ps 16,6 נַחֲלָת {A} MT, G, S // exeg: Hebr, T