Psalm-16
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Tanakh versions:
Throughout this site I
may use any of the following three versions of the TaNaKh: 1. “Jewish
Publication Society” (JPS-1917), 2. Mechon-Mamre.org”
(MEC), and 3. “Sefaria.org” (SEF).
Colour coded
details of the - TaNaKh:
1. Torah =
History & Law, 2. Nevi’im = The Prophets. 3. *Ketuvim = all
other Writings.
*The Ketuvim - Includes, Poetical
books - Psalms, Proverbs, Job, the Megillot, or Scrolls - Song of Solomon,
Ruth, Lamentations of Jeremiah, Ecclesiastes, and
Esther, prophecy of Daniel, and history of Ezra, Nehemiah, and
Chronicles I & II.
Open Thou mine eyes, that I may behold
wondrous things out of Thy Law!
Tehillim - Psalm 119:18..
(JPS-1917 version
of the Tanakh).
Please Note: Some alterations or (additions) have
been made relating to ‘Names’ and ‘Attributes’ of אֱלֹהִים -
Elohim, having been corrected like it once was pre the “Masoretic Text”.
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Remember the following truth from our beloved
Torah!
“Ye shall NOT ADD TO THE WORD which
I command you, NEITHER SHALL YE DIMINISH FROM
IT, that ye may keep the commandments of יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֵיכֶם - the LORD your Eloleichem,
which I command you”. Davarim -
Deuteronomy 4:2.
However, sadly both the later priests as well as our rabbis of long ago have shamefully disobeyed this command of אֱלֹהִים יְהוָה - the LORD Elohim, בָּרוּךְ שֵׁם קָדוֹשׁוֹ - ‘Baruch Shem Kadosho’ – ‘Blessed be His Holy Name!’
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With Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.
Foreword:
Psalm 16 is a Davidic michtam expressing trust in אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s (God) protection, delight in the Divine portion, and confidence in life beyond death.
Introduction:
Psalm 16 (Michtam of David) is a compact personal testament of trust, gratitude, and moral resolve. The JPS-1917 wording frames the Psalm as a plea for divine protection, a declaration that אֱלֹהִים - Elohim is the ‘Psalmist’s’ portion, a refusal of idolatrous cult, and a confident hope that אֱלֹהִים - Elohim will reveal the path of life.
Below I present each verse of Psalm 16 from JPS-1917 version. Which is followed by the ‘verse by verse’, including a concise explanation of the verses.
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Let s read Tehillim -
Psalm chapter 16: (JPS-1917 version of the Tanakh).
1. “Michtam of David. Keep me, O אֱלֹהִים - Elohim; for I have taken refuge in Thee.
2. I have said unto יְהוָה - the LORD: ‘Thou art my יְהוָה - LORD; I have no good but in Thee’;
3. As for the holy that are in the earth, they are the excellent in whom is all my delight.
4. Let the idols of them be multiplied that make suit unto another; their drink-offerings of blood will I not offer, nor take their names upon my lips.
5. O יְהוָה - LORD, the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup, Thou maintainest my lot.
6. The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage.
7. I will bless יְהוָה - the LORD, who hath given me counsel; yea, in the night seasons my reins instruct me.
8. I have set יְהוָה - the LORD always before me; surely He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
9. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth; my flesh also dwelleth in safety;
10. For Thou wilt not abandon my soul to the nether-world; neither wilt Thou suffer Thy godly one to see the pit.
11. Thou makest me to know the path of life; in Thy presence is fulness of joy, in Thy right hand bliss for evermore.
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Let us turn to the ‘verse by verse’ item with Explanation’s:
Verse 1. “Michtam of David. Keep me, O אֱלֹהִים - Elohim; for I have taken refuge in Thee”.
Explanation: The Psalm opens with an urgent petition. The speaker’s stance is explicit dependence: having taken refuge in אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, he asks for continued guarding and preservation.
Verse 2. “I have said unto יְהוָה - the LORD: ‘Thou art my יְהוָה - LORD; I have no good but in Thee’;
Explanation: A confession of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s sovereignty and the speaker’s humility. Any personal goodness is acknowledged as ultimately found in אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, not as independent merit.
Verse 3. “As for the holy that are in the earth, they are the excellent in whom is all my delight”.
Explanation: The Psalmist expresses delight in the community of the faithful. “Holy” and “excellent” point to those whose lives reflect covenantal integrity; communal holiness is a source of joy.
Verse 4. “Let the idols of them be multiplied that make suit unto another; their drink-offerings of blood will I not offer, nor take their names upon my lips”.
Explanation: A categorical rejection of idolatry and its rites. The Psalmist refuses participation in foreign cultic practices and even refuses to pronounce the names associated with them an ethical and cultic separation.
Verse 5. “O יְהוָה - LORD, the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup, Thou maintainest my lot”.
Explanation: Two metaphors, portion and cup express the Psalmist’s sense of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim as his allotted share and sustenance. אֱלֹהִים - Elohim secures his destiny and allotment; life’s inheritance is understood as divinely given.
Verse 6. “The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage”.
Explanation: The image of boundary lines falling evokes land allotment. The Psalmist recognizes his inheritance as gracious and beautiful gratitude for אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s distribution of life’s goods.
Verse 7. “I will bless יְהוָה - the LORD, who hath given me counsel; yea, in the night seasons my reins instruct me”.
Explanation: The Psalmist praises אֱלֹהִים - Elohim for guidance. The inward faculty (“my reins”) instructing at night suggests conscience or inner reflection that continues beyond formal worship, divine counsel and inner moral awareness together.
Verse 8. “I have set יְהוָה - the LORD always before me; surely He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved”.
Explanation: Constant awareness of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim yields stability. The right hand symbolizes strength and support; with אֱלֹהִים - Elohim present, the Psalmist expects steadfastness in the face of trouble.
Verse 9. “Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth; my flesh also dwelleth in safety”;
Explanation: Trust produces joy and bodily reassurance. Both inner rejoicing (“my glory”) and the embodied self (“my flesh”) experience the security that flows from faith.
Verse 10. “For Thou wilt not abandon my soul to the nether-world; neither wilt Thou suffer Thy godly one to see the pit”.
Explanation: A confident assertion that אֱלֹהִים - Elohim will not abandon the speaker to Sheol nor allow the faithful one to undergo decay. In the plain sense of JPS-1917 this is an expression of trust in אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s preserving power beyond death.
Verse 11. “Thou makest me to know the path of life; in Thy presence is fulness of joy, in Thy right hand bliss for evermore”.
Explanation: The Psalm closes with hope: reveals the way of life; אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s presence brings complete joy, and abiding at אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s right hand yields enduring delight. ‘Guidance’, ‘joy’, and a lasting fellowship with אֱלֹהִים - Elohim are joined in the final image.
My Concluding message:
Using the JPS-1917 text, Psalm 16 moves from a plea for protection to a settled conviction: אֱלֹהִים - Elohim is the Psalmist’s portion, the faithful community is his delight, idolatry is rejected, and אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s counsel and presence bring stability, joy, and ultimate preservation. For teaching, emphasize how the Psalm links dependence (refuge), ethical choice (refusal of idolatry), communal delight, and hope (אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s guidance and preservation) into a single, compact spiritual testimony.
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This site was originally created, for those who desired to return to our blessed and wonderful faith. Thus be wise and work on your faith and pray at least two or three times a day (if possible) and always seek our beloved אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s guidance, for His love is always with us, especially when we seek Him, blessed be He! However this site has become very much a teaching site with hundreds of studies!
Remember what אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, blessed be He, said
the following via several of our prophets...
“Return unto Me, and I will
return unto you, saith צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה- the LORD of hosts”. Mal’a’chi -
Malachi 3:7. (JPS).
And Remember ...
Enjoy your Sabbath Rest, Shabbat Shalom!
אֲנִי
יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֵיכֶם, בְּחֻקּוֹתַי
לֵכוּ; וְאֶת-מִשְׁפָּטַי
שִׁמְרוּ, וַעֲשׂוּ
אוֹתָם
וְאֶת-שַׁבְּתוֹתַי, קַדֵּשׁוּ; וְהָיוּ
לְאוֹת, בֵּינִי
וּבֵינֵיכֶם-לָדַעַת, כִּי
אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם
“I am אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה - the LORD your Eloheichem; walk
in My statutes, and keep Mine ordinances,
and do them; and hallow My Sabbaths, and they shall be a sign between Me and
you, that ye may know that I am אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה
- the LORD your Eloheichem”. Yechezkel - Ezekiel 20:19-20. (JPS).
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“The More Torah, the More Life”
For אֱלֹהִים יְהוָה - the LORD Elohim, Blessed be His Sanctified Name,
He is
the one who gave us our Life!”
May the שָׁלוֹם - Shalom = Peace of צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה= the LORD of hosts. be with you, and please always
uphold our blessed שַׁבָּת - Shabbat, as well as
the מוֹעֲדִים - Mo’a’dim -
Feasts, and continue saying your daily תְּפִלָּה - Tefeelah’s (Prayers) and regular בְּרָכָה - Be’ra’chah’s
(blessings) before food and drinks, etc!
שָׁלוֹם
עֲלֵיכֶם - Shalom Aleichem - Peace be with you!
Rabbi,
Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens,
PhD.
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