psalm 16 chiastic structure

Read Psalm 16 at Bible Gateway.

Psalm 16 paragraph divisions:

Psa 16:1 Michtam of David. Preserve me, O God, for in You I put my trust.
Psa 16:2 O my soul, you have said to the Lord, “You are my Lord, My goodness is nothing apart from You.”
Psa 16:3 As for the saints who are on the earth, “They are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight.”
Psa 16:4a Their sorrows shall be multiplied who hasten after another god; {n}
Psa 16:4b Their drink offerings of blood I will not offer, Nor take up their names on my lips.
Psa 16:5 O Lord, You are the portion of my inheritance and my cup; You maintain my lot.
Psa 16:6 The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; Yes, I have a good inheritance.
Psa 16:7 I will bless the Lord who has given me counsel; My heart also instructs me in the night seasons.
Psa 16:8 I have set the Lord always before me; Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved.
Psa 16:9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will rest in hope.
Psa 16:10 For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.
Psa 16:11a You will show me the path of life; {n}
Psa 16:11b In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Psalm 16 chiastic structure:

1a) Psa 16:1-3, Prayer for preservation/ affirmation of faith/ the delight of the righteous:

1) Psa 16:1, Preserve me, O God, for in You I put my trust;
2) Psa 16:2, O my soul, you have said to the Lord, “You are my Lord, My goodness is nothing apart from You;”
3) Psa 16:3, As for the saints who are on the earth, “They are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight;”

1b) Psa 16:4, Those who set another god before them multiply their sorrows {n}/ I will not take their names on my lips;

1c) Psa 16:5, O Lord, You are the portion of my inheritance and my cup; You maintain my lot;

central axis) Psa 16:6a, The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places;

2c) Psa 16:6b, Yes, I have a good inheritance;

2b) Psa 16:7-9, I will bless the Lord/ because I have set the LORD before me, I shall not be moved:

1a) Psa 16:7a, I will bless the Lord who has given me counsel;
1b) Psa 16:7b, My heart also instructs me in the night seasons;
central axis) Psa 16:8, I have set the Lord before me; Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved;
2b) Psa 16:9a, Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices;
2a) Psa 16:9b, My flesh also will rest in hope.

2a) Psa 16:10-11, Assurance of preservation/ affirmation of faith/ the delight of the righteous:

1) Psa 16:10, You will not leave my soul in Sheol, nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption;
2) Psa 16:11a, You will show me the path of life; {n}
3) Psa 16:11b, In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Isn’t it interesting that in the A pair. a soul knowing that his goodness is nothing apart from the Lord God, is paired with the revealed path of life. Knowing that we have an end to ourselves, that we are not the sum of all we need, that we have need for righteousness that we cannot earn, that only is God’s which He must impute to us by grace, is the basis of salvation by grace through faith. It is a gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast. Man has nothing to boast of – he has no goodness apart from the Lord God. Understanding this truth is the beginning of the path of life, the revelation that leads to life.