Psalms 16:3

A difficult verse, the text of which appears to be corrupt.

(1) The best rendering is that of R.V. It is true that it can only be wrung from the Massoretic text by some violence, but an easy emendation removes the grammatical difficulty.

As for the saints [lit. holy ones that are in the earth [or, land

They are the excellent [nobles in whom is all my delight.

From God in heaven the Psalmist turns to men on earth. The true -nobles" (Judges 5:13) in whose society he delights, are not the wealthy or powerful in the world's estimation, but -the holy"; those in whom Israel's calling to be -a holy nation" (Exodus 19:6) has been actually realised. Cp. Psalms 15:4. These he proceeds to contrast with apostates (Psalms 16:4). For them nothing but calamity is in store: with them and their worship he will have nothing to do.

(2) We may however (with R.V. marg.) connect Psalms 16:3 with Psalms 16:2, thus: (I have said) unto [or, of the saints &c., they are the excellent &c. The general sense will remain the same as in (1).

(3) Combining the two alternatives in R.V. marg., we may connect Psalms 16:3 both with Psalms 16:2 and with Psalms 16:4 thus: (I have said) unto the saints &c., and the excellent in whom is all my delight: their sorrows &c. Secure in his own choice of Jehovah he warns others against the fatal consequences of apostasy, and repudiates the idea of it for himself. In this case it is possible that saintsmay mean holyby calling, though not necessarily in character; and excellentmay mean noblesin rank only.

(4) Taking the second alternative of R.V. marg. only, we may render: As for the saints … and the excellent in whom is all my delight: their sorrows &c. So Ewald, who explains, "Thisseems most profoundly to distress him, that the very Israelites, who ought to be the saints and pass for such … the noble, princely men, whom he especially so intensely loves, even these begin to betake themselves increasingly to heathenism." But it is difficult to suppose that he would speak of men who were falling into idolatry in language such as this. (4) may safely be rejected; and (1) is simpler than (2) and (3), and deserves the preference.

(5) Of the host of conjectural emendations it will suffice to mention that of Baethgen, which is based on the LXX: - Unto the saints which are in his land doth Jehovah shew honour: all his delight is in them." It gives a good contrast to Psalms 16:4, but is not convincing.