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Psalm 16:9
Therefore my heart is glad, and my tongue rejoices. My body shall also dwell in safety.
7I will bless the LORD, who has given me counsel. Yes, my heart instructs me in the night seasons.
8I have set the LORD always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
9Therefore my heart is glad, and my tongue rejoices. My body shall also dwell in safety.
10For you will not leave my soul in Sheol, neither will you allow your holy one to see corruption.
11You will show me the path of life. In your presence is fullness of joy. In your right hand there are pleasures forever more.
Notice
“Therefore” roots the glad heart and rejoicing tongue in YHWH’s nearness, extending that confidence to the body’s safety.
Questions to write on. Each one opens a new entry with this verse already attached.
What difference does the opening word “Therefore” make when you read this verse after verse 8?
Write on thisWhat would you want to say aloud if your tongue expressed your gratitude to God today?
Write on thisWhere does the phrase “My body shall also dwell in safety” meet your hopes or questions?
Write on thisConnect
Where else Scripture says this
12 passages readers most often link with this verse, and the thread each one shares with it.
This verse's connections, by chapterThe Bible's strongest chapter linksHover or tap a book to trace it
Acts 2:26Therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced. Moreover my flesh also will dwell in hope,Acts repeats the glad heart and rejoicing tongue, expressing the body’s confidence with the words “dwell in hope.”
Psalm 30:12to the end that my heart may sing praise to you, and not be silent. LORD my God, I will give thanks to you forever!Both verses connect the heart’s joy with audible expression: a rejoicing tongue in Psalm 16 and sung thanks in Psalm 30.
Psalm 57:8Wake up, my glory! Wake up, lute and harp! I will wake up the dawn.Both passages speak of voiced expression, with Psalm 16 naming a rejoicing tongue and Psalm 57 summoning music at dawn.
Psalm 4:7–8You have put gladness in my heart, more than when their grain and their new wine are increased.Both name gladness in the heart, and Psalm 4 names God as the one who puts it there.
Psalm 108:1A Song. A Psalm by David. My heart is steadfast, God. I will sing and I will make music with my soul.A glad heart and rejoicing tongue in Psalm 16 share the inward and outward expression of Psalm 108’s steadfast heart and song.
Luke 10:21–22In that same hour, Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit, and said, “I thank you, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the …Both passages join joy with speech directed toward God, as Jesus’ rejoicing takes the form of thanks to the Father.
Job 19:26–27After my skin is destroyed, then I will see God in my flesh,Both include the body in their confidence before God, though Job speaks of seeing God after his skin is destroyed.
Job 14:14–15If a man dies, will he live again? I would wait all the days of my warfare, until my release should come.The connection is limited: Psalm 16 expresses bodily confidence, while Job asks about life after death and waits for release.
1 Thessalonians 4:13–14But we don’t want you to be ignorant, brothers, concerning those who have fallen asleep, so that you don’t grieve like the rest, who have no hope.Both speak with hope concerning bodily vulnerability, though Thessalonians addresses grief over those who have died.
Isaiah 26:19Your dead shall live. Their dead bodies shall arise. Awake and sing, you who dwell in the dust; for your dew is like the dew of herbs, and the earth will cast …Both join bodily hope with rejoicing, while Isaiah speaks of dead bodies arising and those in the dust singing.
James 3:5–9So the tongue is also a little member, and boasts great things. See how a small fire can spread to a large forest!Both name the tongue as expressive: it rejoices in Psalm 16, while James warns of its boasting and capacity for harm.
Genesis 49:6My soul, don’t come into their council. My glory, don’t be united to their assembly; for in their anger they killed men. In their self-will they hamstrung …The link is limited: Psalm 16 speaks of bodily safety, while Genesis describes violence from which the speaker distances himself.
Where this verse fits
Gratitude. praise and worship. fear for the future.
One step
Something small to carry out of this verse
Encouragement
The gladness here has a ground: YHWH at the speaker’s right hand. Even the body belongs within this hope of safety in God’s presence.
Now put it in your words.
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Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).