A Poem by David.
1Preserve me, God, for I take refuge in you.
2My soul, you have said to Yahweh, “You are my Lord.
Apart from you I have no good thing.”
3As for the saints who are on the earth,
they are the excellent ones in whom is all my delight.
4Their sorrows shall be multiplied who give gifts to another god.
Their drink offerings of blood I will not offer,
nor take their names on my lips.
5Yahweh assigned my portion and my cup.
You made my lot secure.
6The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places.
Yes, I have a good inheritance.
7I will bless Yahweh, who has given me counsel.
Yes, my heart instructs me in the night seasons.
8I have set Yahweh 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.
Acts 2:22-25 introduces Peter’s comparison.
| Old Testament passage | New Testament quotation or statement |
|---|---|
| “I have set the LORD continually before me; because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.” (Ps 16:8 NAS95) | “For David says of him, ‘I saw the LORD always in my presence; for he is at my right hand, so that I will not be shaken.’” (Acts 2:25 NAS95) |
| “Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoices; my flesh also will dwell securely.” (Ps 16:9 NAS95) | “Therefore my heart was glad and my tongue exulted; moreover my flesh also will live in hope.” (Acts 2:26 NAS95) |
| “For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol; nor will you allow your Holy One to undergo decay.” (Ps 16:10 NAS95) | “Because you will not abandon my soul to Hades, nor allow your Holy One to undergo decay.” (Acts 2:27 NAS95) |
| “You will make known to me the path of life; in your presence is fullness of joy; in your right hand there are pleasures forever.” (Ps 16:11 NAS95) | “You have made known to me the ways of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence.” (Acts 2:28 NAS95) |
| Interlude by Peter | |
| David slept with his fathers and was buried in the city of David (1 Kgs 2:10), and Nehemiah repaired opposite the tombs of David (Neh 3:16). | Peter says that David both died and was buried, and that his tomb remained with them (Acts 2:29-30). |
| The LORD swore to David that he would set one of his descendants upon his throne (Ps 132:11; compare 2 Sam 7:12 and Ps 89:3). | God had sworn to seat one of David’s descendants on his throne (Acts 2:30). |
| David “looked ahead and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ” (Acts 2:31 NAS95). | |
| Ps 16:9-10 repeats the promise that the faithful one’s flesh would dwell securely and that God would not abandon his soul to Sheol or allow the Holy One to undergo decay. | “He was neither abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh suffer decay.” (Acts 2:31 NAS95) |
| Jesus was raised, exalted to God’s right hand, and poured forth the promised Holy Spirit (Acts 2:32-34). | |
| “The LORD says to my Lord: ‘Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.’” (Ps 110:1 NAS95) | Peter quotes the same promise in Acts 2:34-35 and concludes that God made Jesus both Lord and Christ (Acts 2:36). |