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Psalm 16:2 I said to the LORD, "You are my Lord; apart from You I have no good thing."
<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Psalm 16:2 I said to the LORD, "You are my Lord; apart from You I have no good thing."</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/psalms/16-2.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/1/19_Psa_016_002.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Psalm 16:2 - The Presence of God" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="I said to the LORD, You are my Lord; apart from You I have no good thing." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/psalms/16-2.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/psalms/16-2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/psalms/">Psalms</a> > <a href="/psalms/16.htm">Chapter 16</a> > Verse 2</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad2.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/psalms/16-1.htm" title="Psalm 16:1">◄</a> Psalm 16:2 <a href="/psalms/16-3.htm" title="Psalm 16:3">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/psalms/16.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter"> (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/psalms/16.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />I say to the LORD, “You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/psalms/16.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />I said to the LORD, “You are my Master! Every good thing I have comes from you.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/psalms/16.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />I say to the LORD, “You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/psalms/16.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />I said to the LORD, “You are my Lord; apart from You I have no good thing.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/psalms/16.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br /><i>O my soul</i>, thou hast said unto the LORD, Thou <i>art</i> my Lord: my goodness <i>extendeth</i> not to thee;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/psalms/16.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br /><i>O my soul,</i> you have said to the LORD, “You <i>are</i> my Lord, My goodness is nothing apart from You.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/psalms/16.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />I said to the LORD, “You are my Lord; I have nothing good besides You.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/psalms/16.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />I said to the LORD, “You are my Lord; I have no good besides You.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/psalms/16.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />I said to the LORD, “Thou art my Lord; I have no good besides Thee.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/psalms/16.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br /><i>O my soul</i>, you have said to Yahweh, “You are my Lord; I have no good without You.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/psalms/16.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />I said to the LORD, “You are my Lord; I have no good besides You.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/psalms/16.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />I said to the LORD, “You are my Lord; I have nothing good besides you.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/psalms/16.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />I said to Yahweh, “You are my Lord; I have nothing good besides You.” <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/psalms/16.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />O my soul, thou hast said unto Jehovah, Thou art my Lord: I have no good beyond thee.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/psalms/16.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />and I have said, "Only you are my Lord! Every good thing I have is a gift from you." <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/psalms/16.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />I have said unto the LORD, Thou art my Lord: I have no good beyond thee.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/psalms/16.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />I said to the LORD, "You are my Lord. Without you, I have nothing good."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/psalms/16.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />I say to the LORD, "You are my Lord; all the good things I have come from you." <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/psalms/16.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />I told the LORD, "You are my master, I have nothing good apart from you."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/psalms/16.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />I said to the LORD, ?You are my Lord; apart from You I have no good thing.?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/psalms/16.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />I say to the LORD, "You are the Lord, my only source of well-being." <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/psalms/16.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />I said to the LORD, "You are my Lord. Apart from you I have no good thing."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/psalms/16.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />O my soul, thou hast said to the LORD, Thou art my Lord: my goodness extendeth not to thee;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/psalms/16.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />My soul, you have said to Yahweh, “You are my Lord. Apart from you I have no good thing.” <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/psalms/16.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />You have said to YHWH, “You [are] my Lord”; My goodness [is] not above You;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/psalms/16.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> Thou hast said to Jehovah, 'My Lord Thou art;' My good is not for thine own sake;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/psalms/16.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />Thou saidst to Jehovah, Thou my Lord: my good not upon thee.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/psalms/16.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />I have said to the Lord, thou art my God, for thou hast no need of my goods. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/psalms/16.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br /><V 15:2>I have said to the Lord: “You are my God, so you have no need of my goodness.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/psalms/16.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />I say to the LORD, you are my Lord, you are my only good. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/psalms/16.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />I say to the LORD, “You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you.”<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/psalms/16.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />I have said unto the LORD, Thou art my LORD, and my goodness cometh from thee;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/psalms/16.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />I have said to LORD JEHOVAH, "You are my Lord and my goodness is from your presence.”<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/psalms/16.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />I have said unto the LORD: 'Thou art my Lord; I have no good but in Thee';<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/psalms/16.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />I said to the Lord, Thou art my Lord; for thou has no need of my goodness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/psalms/16-2.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nFaD2oDhKPc?start=1269" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/psalms/16.htm">The Presence of God</a></span><br><span class="reftext">1</span>A Miktam of David. Preserve me, O God, for in You I take refuge. <span class="reftext">2</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/559.htm" title="559: ’ā·mart (V-Qal-Perf-2fs) -- To utter, say. A primitive root; to say.">I said</a> <a href="/hebrew/3068.htm" title="3068: Yah·weh (Prep-l:: N-proper-ms) -- The proper name of the God of Israel. From hayah; self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God.">to the LORD,</a> <a href="/hebrew/859.htm" title="859: ’āt·tāh (Pro-2ms) -- You (masc. sing.). ">“You</a> <a href="/hebrew/136.htm" title="136: ’ă·ḏō·nāy (N-proper-ms) -- Lord. Am emphatic form of 'adown; the Lord.">are my Lord;</a> <a href="/hebrew/5921.htm" title="5921: ‘ā·le·ḵā (Prep:: 2ms) -- Properly, the same as al used as a preposition; above, over, upon, or against in a great variety of applications.">apart from You</a> <a href="/hebrew/1077.htm" title="1077: bal- (Adv) -- Not. From balah; properly, a failure; by implication nothing; usually not at all; also lest.">I have no</a> <a href="/hebrew/2896.htm" title="2896: ṭō·w·ḇā·ṯî (N-fsc:: 1cs) -- Pleasant, agreeable, good.">good thing.”</a> </span><span class="reftext">3</span>As for the saints in the land, they are the excellence in whom all my delight resides.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/15-5.htm">John 15:5</a></span><br />I am the vine and you are the branches. The one who remains in Me, and I in him, will bear much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/philippians/4-13.htm">Philippians 4:13</a></span><br />I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/james/1-17.htm">James 1:17</a></span><br />Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, with whom there is no change or shifting shadow.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/17-28.htm">Acts 17:28</a></span><br />‘For in Him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are His offspring.’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/6-68.htm">John 6:68</a></span><br />Simon Peter replied, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words of eternal life.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/8-6.htm">1 Corinthians 8:6</a></span><br />yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we exist. And there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we exist.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/colossians/1-16.htm">Colossians 1:16-17</a></span><br />For in Him all things were created, things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities. All things were created through Him and for Him. / He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/11-36.htm">Romans 11:36</a></span><br />For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever! Amen.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_corinthians/3-5.htm">2 Corinthians 3:5</a></span><br />Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim that anything comes from us, but our competence comes from God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/19-17.htm">Matthew 19:17</a></span><br />“Why do you ask Me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/26-12.htm">Isaiah 26:12</a></span><br />O LORD, You will establish peace for us. For all that we have accomplished, You have done for us.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/10-23.htm">Jeremiah 10:23</a></span><br />I know, O LORD, that a man’s way is not his own; no one who walks directs his own steps.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/8-17.htm">Deuteronomy 8:17-18</a></span><br />You might say in your heart, “The power and strength of my hands have made this wealth for me.” / But remember that it is the LORD your God who gives you the power to gain wealth, in order to confirm His covenant that He swore to your fathers even to this day.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/45-24.htm">Isaiah 45:24</a></span><br />Surely they will say of Me, ‘In the LORD alone are righteousness and strength.’” All who rage against Him will come to Him and be put to shame.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hosea/14-8.htm">Hosea 14:8</a></span><br />O Ephraim, what have I to do anymore with idols? It is I who answer and watch over him. I am like a flourishing cypress; your fruit comes from Me.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">O my soul, you have said to the LORD, You are my Lord: my goodness extends not to you;</p><p class="hdg">thou hast</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/8-1.htm">Psalm 8:1</a></b></br> To the chief Musician upon Gittith, A Psalm of David. O LORD our Lord, how excellent <i>is</i> thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/27-8.htm">Psalm 27:8</a></b></br> <i>When thou saidst</i>, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/31-14.htm">Psalm 31:14</a></b></br> But I trusted in thee, O LORD: I said, Thou <i>art</i> my God.</p><p class="hdg">my goodness</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/50-9.htm">Psalm 50:9,10</a></b></br> I will take no bullock out of thy house, <i>nor</i> he goats out of thy folds… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/job/22-2.htm">Job 22:2,3</a></b></br> Can a man be profitable unto God, as he that is wise may be profitable unto himself? … </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/job/35-7.htm">Job 35:7,8</a></b></br> If thou be righteous, what givest thou him? or what receiveth he of thine hand? … </p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/psalms/7-2.htm">Apart</a> <a href="/job/34-32.htm">Besides</a> <a href="/psalms/15-3.htm">Good</a> <a href="/nehemiah/9-35.htm">Goodness</a> <a href="/psalms/6-4.htm">Sake</a> <a href="/psalms/13-2.htm">Soul</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/psalms/88-5.htm">Apart</a> <a href="/psalms/18-31.htm">Besides</a> <a href="/psalms/16-6.htm">Good</a> <a href="/psalms/21-3.htm">Goodness</a> <a href="/psalms/23-3.htm">Sake</a> <a href="/psalms/16-9.htm">Soul</a><div class="vheading2">Psalm 16</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/psalms/16-1.htm">David, in distrust of merits, and hatred of idolatry</a></span><br><span class="reftext">5. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/psalms/16-5.htm">He shows the hope of his calling, of the resurrection, and life everlasting</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-728x90-ATF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-300x250-ATF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-728x90-BTF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-300x250-BTF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-728x90-BTF2 --> <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/psalms/16.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/psalms/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/psalms/16.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>I said to the LORD</b><br>This phrase indicates a personal and direct communication with God, reflecting a relationship of intimacy and reverence. The use of "LORD" in all caps signifies the Hebrew name Yahweh, the covenant name of God, emphasizing His eternal and self-existent nature. This personal address is consistent with the psalmist's understanding of God as both transcendent and immanent, a theme prevalent throughout the Psalms. The act of speaking to God highlights the importance of prayer and personal devotion in the believer's life, as seen in other scriptures like <a href="/psalms/5-3.htm">Psalm 5:3</a> and <a href="/psalms/55-17.htm">Psalm 55:17</a>.<p><b>You are my Lord</b><br>Here, "Lord" is translated from the Hebrew word "Adonai," which denotes master or sovereign. This acknowledges God's authority and the psalmist's submission to His will. The dual use of "LORD" and "Lord" underscores the relationship between God and His people, where God is both the covenant-keeping Yahweh and the sovereign ruler. This reflects the biblical theme of God's kingship, as seen in passages like <a href="/psalms/47-2.htm">Psalm 47:2</a> and <a href="/isaiah/33-22.htm">Isaiah 33:22</a>. The personal pronoun "my" indicates a personal claim and commitment, echoing the covenant relationship between God and His people.<p><b>apart from You I have no good thing</b><br>This phrase expresses the psalmist's recognition that all goodness and blessings originate from God. It reflects a deep understanding of human dependency on divine grace and provision. This idea is echoed in <a href="/james/1-17.htm">James 1:17</a>, which states that every good and perfect gift is from above. Theologically, it underscores the concept of God's sufficiency and the believer's reliance on Him for all aspects of life. This dependency is a recurring theme in the Psalms and is central to the biblical worldview that sees God as the source of all that is good and life-giving.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/d/david.htm">David</a></b><br>Traditionally attributed as the author of <a href="/bsb/psalms/16.htm">Psalm 16</a>, David is expressing his personal relationship and dependence on God.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_lord.htm">The LORD (Yahweh)</a></b><br>The covenant name of God, emphasizing His eternal and self-existent nature.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_psalmist's_declaration.htm">The Psalmist's Declaration</a></b><br>The event of the psalmist declaring his reliance on God for all goodness.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/d/dependence_on_god.htm">Dependence on God</a></b><br>Recognize that all good things in life come from God. This acknowledgment fosters humility and gratitude.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/p/personal_relationship_with_god.htm">Personal Relationship with God</a></b><br>Emphasize the importance of a personal relationship with God, as David expresses in his declaration.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/contentment_in_god.htm">Contentment in God</a></b><br>Find contentment in God alone, understanding that apart from Him, nothing truly good exists.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/god_as_the_source_of_goodness.htm">God as the Source of Goodness</a></b><br>Encourage believers to seek God as the ultimate source of goodness and fulfillment in their lives.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/trust_in_god's_provision.htm">Trust in God's Provision</a></b><br>Trust that God will provide all that is good for us, as He is the source of all that is good.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_psalm_16.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Psalm 16</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_can_good_exist_without_god.htm">(Psalm 16:2) How can the psalmist claim to have no good apart from God, when nonbelievers also demonstrate goodness and virtue without a religious framework? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_does_''voice_of_the_archangel''_mean.htm">What does it mean to hate evil and love good?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/meaning_of_'godliness_with_contentment'.htm">What does "Godliness with Contentment" mean?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_can_we_'taste'_god's_goodness.htm">How can Psalm 34:8 state 'taste and see that the Lord is good' when there is no empirical way to measure spiritual experiences?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/psalms/16.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(2) <span class= "bld">Thou hast</span> <span class= "bld">said.</span>--The text of this passage is exceedingly corrupt. This appears (1) from the actual existence of various readings, (2) by the variations in the ancient versions, both from the Hebrew and each other. It will be best to take <a href="/context/psalms/16-2.htm" title="O my soul, you have said to the LORD, You are my Lord: my goodness extends not to you;">Psalm 16:2-3</a> together first. The consensus of the ancient versions in favour of the first person, "I said," instead of "thou hast said" (the italicised words <span class= "ital">O my soul, </span>are a mere gloss from the Chaldee), gives for <a href="/psalms/16-2.htm" title="O my soul, you have said to the LORD, You are my Lord: my goodness extends not to you;">Psalm 16:2</a> the plain and intelligible rendering<p>I said to Jehovah, Thou art my Lord,<p>I have no good besides thee.<p><a href="/psalms/16-3.htm" title="But to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight.">Psalm 16:3</a> also requires emendation, being quite unintelligible as it stands. The simplest device is to omit the conjunction and recognise one of those changes of person so agreeable to Hebrew, when the verse will run--<p>"And of the saints who are in the earth,<p>They are the excellent in whom is all my delight."<p>The Authorised Version, in inserting "extendeth," introduces the fine thought that . . . <div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/psalms/16.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 2.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">O my soul, thou hast said unto the Lord</span>. The ordinary Hebrew text, <span class="hebrew">אָמַרְתְּ</span>, "thou hast said," requires the insertion of "O my soul," or something similar. But if we read <span class="hebrew">אמרתי</span> with a large number of manuscripts, with the LXX., the Vulgate, the Syriac, and most other versions, no insertion will be necessary. The meaning will then be, <span class="accented">I</span> <span class="accented">have said to Jehovah. <span class="cmt_word"></span>Thou art my Lord</span>; Hebrew, <span class="accented">adonai</span> - "my Lord and Master." <span class="cmt_word">My goodness extendeth not to thee</span>. This meaning cannot be elicited from the Hebrew words. <span class="accented">Tobah is</span> not "goodness," but "prosperity" or "happiness" (comp. <a href="/psalms/106-5.htm">Psalm 106:5</a>); and '<span class="accented">aleyka</span> is best explained as "beside thee," "beyond thee." The psalmist means to say that he has no happiness beside (or apart from) God. (So Ewald, Hengstenberg, Cheyne, the 'Speaker's Commentary,' and the Revised Version.) <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/psalms/16-2.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">I said</span><br /><span class="heb">אָמַ֣רְתְּ</span> <span class="translit">(’ā·mart)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_559.htm">Strong's 559: </a> </span><span class="str2">To utter, say</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to the LORD,</span><br /><span class="heb">לַֽ֭יהוָה</span> <span class="translit">(Yah·weh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3068.htm">Strong's 3068: </a> </span><span class="str2">LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel</span><br /><br /><span class="word">“You</span><br /><span class="heb">אָ֑תָּה</span> <span class="translit">(’āt·tāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Pronoun - second person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_859.htm">Strong's 859: </a> </span><span class="str2">Thou and thee, ye and you</span><br /><br /><span class="word">are my Lord;</span><br /><span class="heb">אֲדֹנָ֣י</span> <span class="translit">(’ă·ḏō·nāy)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_136.htm">Strong's 136: </a> </span><span class="str2">The Lord</span><br /><br /><span class="word">apart from You</span><br /><span class="heb">עָלֶֽיךָ׃</span> <span class="translit">(‘ā·le·ḵā)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition | second person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5921.htm">Strong's 5921: </a> </span><span class="str2">Above, over, upon, against</span><br /><br /><span class="word">I have no</span><br /><span class="heb">בַּל־</span> <span class="translit">(bal-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1077.htm">Strong's 1077: </a> </span><span class="str2">A failure, nothing, not at all, lest</span><br /><br /><span class="word">good thing.”</span><br /><span class="heb">ט֝וֹבָתִ֗י</span> <span class="translit">(ṭō·w·ḇā·ṯî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2896.htm">Strong's 2896: </a> </span><span class="str2">Pleasant, agreeable, good</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/psalms/16-2.htm">Psalm 16:2 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/psalms/16-2.htm">Psalm 16:2 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/psalms/16-2.htm">Psalm 16:2 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/psalms/16-2.htm">Psalm 16:2 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/psalms/16-2.htm">Psalm 16:2 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/psalms/16-2.htm">Psalm 16:2 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/psalms/16-2.htm">Psalm 16:2 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/psalms/16-2.htm">Psalm 16:2 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/psalms/16-2.htm">Psalm 16:2 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/psalms/16-2.htm">Psalm 16:2 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/psalms/16-2.htm">OT Poetry: Psalm 16:2 My soul you have said to Yahweh (Psalm Ps Psa.) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/psalms/16-1.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Psalm 16:1"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Psalm 16:1" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/psalms/16-3.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Psalm 16:3"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Psalm 16:3" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>