Corpus Psalterium · Vol. I
Psalm XVI (16)
Cantillated — Trust Delight
Paul Whitehorn
Study the Word
Psalm 16 in Hebrew and English, and the words as they are sung.
A Poem by David.
Preserve me, God, for I take refuge in you.
מִכְתָּ֥ם לְדָוִ֑ד שָֽׁמְרֵ֥נִי אֵ֝֗ל כִּֽי־חָסִ֥יתִי בָֽךְ׃
My soul, you have said to Yahweh, “You are my Lord. Apart from you I have no good thing.”
אָמַ֣רְתְּ לַֽ֭יהוָה אֲדֹנָ֣י אָ֑תָּה ט֝וֹבָתִ֗י בַּל־עָלֶֽיךָ׃
As for the saints who are on the earth, they are the excellent ones in whom is all my delight.
לִ֭קְדוֹשִׁים אֲשֶׁר־בָּאָ֣רֶץ הֵ֑מָּה וְ֝אַדִּירֵ֗י כָּל־חֶפְצִי־בָֽם׃
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.
יִרְבּ֥וּ עַצְּבוֹתָם֮ אַחֵ֪ר מָ֫הָ֥רוּ בַּל־אַסִּ֣יךְ נִסְכֵּיהֶ֣ם מִדָּ֑ם וּֽבַל־אֶשָּׂ֥א אֶת־שְׁ֝מוֹתָ֗ם עַל־שְׂפָתָֽי׃
Yahweh assigned my portion and my cup. You made my lot secure.
יְֽהוָ֗ה מְנָת־חֶלְקִ֥י וְכוֹסִ֑י אַ֝תָּ֗ה תּוֹמִ֥יךְ גּוֹרָלִֽי׃
The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places. Yes, I have a good inheritance.
חֲבָלִ֣ים נָֽפְלוּ־לִ֭י בַּנְּעִמִ֑ים אַף־נַ֝חֲלָ֗ת שָֽׁפְרָ֥ה עָלָֽי׃
I will bless Yahweh, who has given me counsel. Yes, my heart instructs me in the night seasons.
אֲבָרֵ֗ךְ אֶת־יְ֭הוָה אֲשֶׁ֣ר יְעָצָ֑נִי אַף־לֵ֝יל֗וֹת יִסְּר֥וּנִי כִלְיוֹתָֽי׃
I have set Yahweh always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
שִׁוִּ֬יתִי יְהוָ֣ה לְנֶגְדִּ֣י תָמִ֑יד כִּ֥י מִֽ֝ימִינִ֗י בַּל־אֶמּֽוֹט׃
Therefore my heart is glad, and my tongue rejoices. My body shall also dwell in safety.
לָכֵ֤ן ׀ שָׂמַ֣ח לִ֭בִּי וַיָּ֣גֶל כְּבוֹדִ֑י אַף־בְּ֝שָׂרִ֗י יִשְׁכֹּ֥ן לָבֶֽטַח׃
For you will not leave my soul in Sheol, neither will you allow your holy one to see corruption.
כִּ֤י ׀ לֹא־תַעֲזֹ֣ב נַפְשִׁ֣י לִשְׁא֑וֹל לֹֽא־תִתֵּ֥ן חֲ֝סִידְךָ֗ לִרְא֥וֹת שָֽׁחַת׃
You will show me the path of life. In your presence is fullness of joy. In your right hand there are pleasures forever more.
תּֽוֹדִיעֵנִי֮ אֹ֤רַח חַ֫יִּ֥ים שֹׂ֣בַע שְׂ֭מָחוֹת אֶת־פָּנֶ֑יךָ נְעִמ֖וֹת בִּימִינְךָ֣ נֶֽצַח׃
Hebrew: Westminster Leningrad Codex (public domain), from the Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible. English: World English Bible (public domain). Verse numbers follow the English Bible; the Hebrew numbering is shown beneath where it differs.
Preserve me, O God
I take refuge in You
I say to the LORD
You are my Lord
I have no good
apart from You
The holy ones in the land
they are the noble ones
All my delight
is in them
Those who run after other gods
their sorrows multiply
I will not pour out
their offerings of blood
I will not take
their names on my lips
You are my portion
You are my cup
You hold my life
You hold my lot
You are my portion
You are my cup
You hold me firm
I will not fall
The lines have fallen
for me in pleasant places
Yes, I have
a beautiful inheritance
I bless the LORD
who gives me counsel
Even in the night
my heart instructs me
I set the LORD
always before me
He is at my right hand
I will not be shaken
My heart is glad
My whole being rejoices
Even my flesh
dwells secure
You will not abandon me
You are my portion
You are my cup
You hold my life
You hold my lot
You are my portion
You are my joy
In Your presence
is fullness of joy
You will show me life
In Your presence
there is joy
forever
Lyrics by Paul Whitehorn: a singable English rendering of the Hebrew, as sung on this recording.
Corpus Psalterium sets each psalm to music by its Hebrew grammar. Didactic psalms teach; Cantillated psalms are spoken, sung or performed before God. Hear all 150 psalms free.