This psalm is sung from the perspective of a person perfect according to God. Psalter of the Trisagion after Our Father

Psalm of David, 109

1 The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool!”

2 The Lord will give you the rod of authority from the heights of Zion, and rule over your enemies!

3 Thou shalt show might in the day of Thy glory, in the brightness of Thy saints. “From My womb before the dawn of the universe You were born.”

4 The Lord has sworn and will not deny His words: “You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek!”

5 The LORD hath cast down kings before thee in the day of his wrath;

6 He will judge the nations, cover the earth with the bodies of the fallen, crush the heads of His enemies;

7 He will drink from the stream along His way; and He will lift His forehead high.

Hallelujah, 110

1 I will glorify You, O Lord, with all my heart in the council and assembly of the righteous.

2 Great are the works of the Lord, wonderful are all his works;

3 Glory and splendor are in His works, and His righteousness endures forever.

4 He made His miracles memorable. The Lord is merciful and generous.

5 He gave food to those who feared Him; remembers His covenant forever;

6 He showed His power to His people, and gave them the wealth of the Gentiles.

7 The works of His hands are full of truth and righteousness, His commandments are sure,

8 Established forever, created in truth and in righteousness.

9 He sent redemption to His people; He commanded His covenant forever. Holy and awesome is His name.

10 The beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord; everyone who lives in it is given a bright mind. The glory of God endures forever.

Alleluia, Aggeevo and Zahariino, 111

1 Blessed is the man who fears the Lord; he loves His commandments.

2 His descendants will be strong on earth, the race of the righteous will be blessed;

3 Glory and wealth are in his house, and his righteousness endures from age to age.

4 Light has shone in the darkness for the righteous. The righteous is merciful and generous.

5 A good man lends generously; he will be justified at the Judgment and will never be shaken.

6 The righteous will be remembered forever.

7 He will not be afraid of bad reports.

8 His heart is ready to trust in the Lord; his heart is unshakable, he will not be afraid, looking at his enemies.

9 He squandered his property and gave it to the poor; his righteousness will endure from century to century; his dignity will rise in glory.

10 The sinner will see this and be angry; he will gnash his teeth and waste away; his hopes will perish.

Hallelujah 112

1 O children, praise the Lord, praise the name of the Lord!

2 Blessed be the name of the Lord from now on and forever!

3 From east to west let them praise the name of the Lord.

4 The Lord is exalted above all nations; His glory is above the heavens.

5 Who is like the Lord our God? He lives on the heights

6 And he looks upon the humble in heaven and on earth.

7 He lifts up the poor from the earth, He lifts up the needy from the dirt,

8 And he will make him sit with the princes, with the princes of his people;

9 He will make the barren woman dwell in His house, like a mother rejoicing over her children.

Hallelujah 113

1 After Israel came out of Egypt, the family of Jacob from the land of the barbarians,

2 Judah became his sanctuary, Israel his province.

3 When the sea saw it, it subsided; Jordan returned;

4 The mountains leapt like sheep, and the hills like lambs.

5 What has become of you, O sea, that you have flown away, and what has become of you, O Jordan, that you have returned?

6 Why are you mountains leaping like sheep, and you hills like lambs?

7 At the sight of the Lord the earth shook, at the sight of the God of Jacob;

8 Where there were stones, He created a full-flowing lake, and from the depths of an indestructible rock, by His will, a spring of water arose.

9 Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to Your name give glory, according to Your mercy and according to Your truth!

10 Let the heathen never say, “Where is their God?”

11 And our God has done in heaven and on earth whatever He willed.

12 The idols of the heathen are silver and gold, the work of human hands;

13 They have lips, and do not speak; they have eyes and will not see;

14 They have ears and will not hear; have nostrils, but do not smell;

15 They have hands, and will not touch; they have legs, but they will not walk; They do not give voice with their larynx.

16 May those who created them and all who trust in them be like idols!

17 The house of Israel trusted in the Lord; He is the Giver of help and Protector to them.

18 The house of Aaron trusted in the Lord; He is the Giver of help and Protector to them.

19 Those who fear the Lord trust in the Lord; He is the Giver of help and Protector to them.

20 The Lord remembers us and has blessed us; He blessed the house of Israel, He blessed the house of Aaron,

21 He blessed those who fear Him, small and great.

22 May the Lord increase blessings for you, you and your sons!

23 The Lord, Maker of heaven and earth, bless you.

24 The heaven that is above the heavens is the abode of the Lord, and the earth He has given to the sons of men.

25 It is not the dead who praise you, O Lord, nor those who go down to hell;

26 But we who are alive will bless the Lord from now on and forever!

Hallelujah 114

1 I rejoiced, for the Lord heard my prayer,

2 For He has inclined His ear to me; and I will call on Him all the days of my life.

3 Mortal diseases have seized me, the troubles of hell have befallen me; I knew sorrow and sickness and called on the name of the Lord.

4 O Lord, deliver my soul from troubles! The Lord is merciful and righteous, our God has mercy on us.

5 The Lord protects children; I humbled myself, and He saved me.

6 Find peace, my soul. For the Lord has done good for you!

7 For He has delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, and my feet from stumbling.

8 I will please the Lord in the land of the living.

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages, amen

Hallelujah 115

1 I believed and said to myself: “I have humbled myself deeply.”

2 I said in my frenzy: “Every man is a liar!”

3 How will I repay the Lord for all that He has given me?

4 I will take the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord;

5 The vows that I have made to the Lord will I fulfill in the presence of all His people.

6 The death of His righteous is honorable before the Lord.

7 O Lord, I am Your servant, I am Your servant and the son of Your handmaid! You have broken my bonds.

8 I will offer you a sacrifice of praise and call on the name of the Lord.

9 I will fulfill the vows that I have made to the Lord before all His people,

10 In the courts of the house of the Lord, in your fence, O Jerusalem!

Hallelujah 116

1 Praise the Lord, all you nations; praise Him, all you people!

2 For His mercy toward us is unfailing, and the truth of the Lord endures forever!

Hallelujah 117

1 Glorify the Lord, for He is good, and His mercy endures forever!

2 Let the house of Israel say this: He is good, and His mercy endures forever.

3 Let the house of Aaron say: He is good, and His mercy endures forever.

4 Let those who fear the Lord say, He is good, and His mercy endures forever.

5 In my sorrow I called on the Lord, and He heard me and gave my heart space.

6 The Lord gives me help, and I will not be afraid: what can man do to me?

7 The Lord gives me help, and I will look upon my enemies without fear.

8 It is better to trust in the Lord than to trust in man;

9 It is better to trust in the Lord than to trust in princes.

10 All the nations surrounded me. But in the name of the Lord I fought with them.

11 They surrounded me and surrounded me, but in the name of the Lord I fought against them.

12 They surrounded me like bees on a honeycomb, and they burned with fury like fire in a thorn bush, but in the name of the Lord I fought against them.

13 I was cast down and almost fell, but the Lord supported me.

14 The Lord is my strength, I sing praises to Him, and He was my salvation.

15 The joyful cries of the saved are heard in the abodes of the righteous: the right hand of the Lord has shown power.

16 The right hand of the Lord has exalted me; the right hand of the Lord has shown strength.

17 I will not die, but I will live and tell the works of the Lord.

18 The Lord taught me when he punished me, but he did not put me to death.

19 Open the gates of righteousness for me! By entering them I will glorify the Lord.

20 This is the gate of the Lord; only the righteous will enter them.

21 I will glorify You, for You heard me and showed me salvation.

22 The stone that the builders rejected became the cornerstone;

23 He was from the Lord, and marvelous to our eyes.

24 This day has been made by the Lord; let us rejoice and be glad!

25 O Lord, save us! Oh Lord, hurry to help!

26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! We bless you from the house of the Lord!

27 God is our Lord, and He appeared to us. Gather together in large numbers for the feast in the temple before the altar!

28 You are my God, and I will glorify You; You are my God, and I will exalt You; I will glorify You, for You heard me and showed me salvation.

29 Glorify the Lord, for He is good, and His mercy endures forever!

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages, amen

Trisagion according to Our Father:
Also troparia, tone 1: Peace awaits you, my soul, and the Judge wants to expose your secret and cruel. Do not remain among those here, but precede the crying Judges: God, cleanse me and save me.

Glory: For I am beset with many sins and immeasurable wounds, O Savior, when I sin, I pray to Your compassion, O Christ: visit the physician of the sick, and heal and save me.

And now: My soul, why are you living carelessly and being lazy? Why are you not concerned about the evil ones you have done in your life? If you try to correct yourself first, even the Lord will not close the door for you. O Mother of God, come down and cry out: Hope of the hopeless, save me, who have sinned so much against You, Most Pure Lady.

Holy Lord, Living in the Highest, and with Your all-seeing eye look upon all creation, We bow to You, soul and body, and we pray to You, Holy of Holies: stretch out Your invisible hand from Your holy dwelling, and bless us all, and forgive us every sin, voluntary and involuntary, in word or deed. Grant us, Lord, tenderness, grant spiritual tears from the soul, for the cleansing of many of our sins, grant Your great mercy to Your world and to us, Your unworthy servants. For blessed and glorified is Your name, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages, Amen.

Trisagion according to Our Father:

Troparion, voice 1: Another world awaits you, soul, and the Judge intends to expose your secret and evil deeds. Do not remain immersed in earthly things, but before the end, cry out to the Judge: “God, cleanse me and save me!”

Glory: I am enveloped in many sins and countless plagues, O Savior, sinning, but I pray to Your mercy, Christ: “Physician of the sick, visit and heal and save me!”

And now: My soul, why do you live carelessly in laziness? Why don't you worry about the evil things you've done in life? Try to correct yourself before the Lord closes the door for you. Run to the Mother of God, fall down and cry: “Hope of the hopeless, save me, who have sinned much before You, Most Pure Lady!”

Lord, have mercy (40) and prayer:

Holy Lord, who lives in the highest and sees all creation with Your all-seeing eye! We bow before You, soul and body, and we pray to You, Holy of Holies: stretch out Your invisible hand from Your holy dwelling, and bless us all, and forgive us every sin, both voluntary and involuntary, in word or deed. Grant us, Lord, tenderness, grant spiritual tears from the soul, for the cleansing of many of our sins, grant Thy great mercy to Thy world and to us, Thy unworthy servants. For blessed and glorious is Thy name, of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and always, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

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Interpretation of Psalm 16

As follows from the inscription preceding the psalm, it was in the mouth of David his prayer to the Lord; written in distressing circumstances. Much of its content can be perceived as an indication that this psalm poured out from the heart of David, who was extremely tired of the hatred of King Saul, who was hunting him.

A. The Prayer of the Righteous (16:1-5)

Ps. 16:1-2. With a thrice repeated appeal: Hear, Lord... listen... accept the prayer - David emphasizes that his need for the Lord’s help is urgent. Hear about my just cause (about “truth”) from lips that do not lie to You, the psalmist cries.

In verse 2, he asks that the “sentence” (judgment) on him and (implied) his enemies be pronounced by the Lord Himself, who, David hopes, sees that he is right.

Ps. 16:3-5. The first phrase of verse 3 can be taken as an image of the disasters (attacks, betrayals) that constantly threatened David and his followers; but perhaps the psalmist meant something specific that happened “one night,” which he perceived as a test, a “temptation” from above. But, David claims, You could be convinced that I remained faithful to You: my lips do not depart from my thoughts.

And in business - in everything that concerns everyday human life, with its affections, passions, temptations - David acted according to the word of the Lord (verse 4). What may also be meant here is that, having been anointed to the throne of Israel by God’s decision, David kept himself from the temptation to take “the path of the oppressor,” but remained loyal and fair to those around him, and, most importantly, did not strive for the violent overthrow of Saul .

In verse 5, he asks that the Lord will help him to stay in these ways that are pleasing to Him, so that David’s feet do not falter in them.

B. Prayer for protection and protection (16:6-12)

Ps. 16:6-7. Urgently asking God for help, which speaks of the extremity of his situation at that time, David trusts in His wondrous mercy, that is, in the miraculous deliverance of His chosen one from those who resist the right hand of God (God's anointing of David). In English translated, this verse sounds slightly different: “Show Your wondrous mercy, You who save those who trust in You with Your right hand (right hand) from those who rise up against them.”

Despite partial discrepancies, both the “resisters” and “rebels” are quite consistent with King Saul and his entourage.

Ps. 16:8-10. Continuation of the same prayer. David's enemies were enclosed in their fat (verse 10), that is, they were overgrown with fat; insensitive to the needs of the people, they live for their own pleasure, arrogant in their thoughts and words.

Ps. 16:11-12. In verse 11, David refers to the cunning, cunning tactics of the enemies around him; they stop at nothing in their desire to put an end to him (“throw him down to the ground”). In these attempts of theirs, he likens them to bloodthirsty lions (“skimn” - young lion), lying in wait for their prey in a “shelter” and pouncing on it suddenly.

Ps. 16:13-15. Warn them... Lord (verse 13), that is, “do not let their plans come true.” The psalmist asks to be delivered from people who live only in the interests of worldly life, alien to spiritual needs. Despite the fact that the Lord does not prevent them from being satisfied and becoming rich (You fill their bellies, so that both their children and grandchildren will have abundance), they strive to become more and more established in the world and for the sake of their purely earthly interests they pursue David.

Forced to lead a “nomadic” lifestyle, David could not at that time worship God in the tabernacle; he dreams of the time when this will become possible for him, so that in his rightness he can look at the face of God and be satisfied with His image (verse 15).

1 David's Prayer. Hear, O Lord, the truth, listen to my cry, accept the prayer from the lips of the truthful.

2 Let judgment come to me from Your presence; let Thy eyes look upon righteousness.

3 You searched my heart, visited me by night, tempted me and found nothing; My lips do not depart from my thoughts.

4 In the affairs of men, according to the word of Your mouth, I have kept myself from the ways of the oppressor.

5 Establish my steps in Your ways, so that my feet do not falter.

6 I cry to You, for You will hear me, O God; incline Your ear to me, hear my words.

7 Show Your wondrous mercy, O Savior of those who trust at you from those who resist Your right hand.

8 Guard me like the apple of your eye; shelter me in the shadow of your wings

9 from the wicked who attack me, from the enemies of my soul who surround me:

10 They are wrapped in their fat, they speak arrogantly with their lips.

11 They surround us now at every step we take; they fixed their eyes to overthrow me to the ground;

12 They are like a lion thirsty for prey, like a skim sitting in hidden places.

13 Arise, O Lord, warn them, bring them down. Deliver my soul from the wicked by Your sword,

15 But I will look upon Your face in righteousness; Having awakened, I will be satisfied with Your image.

Interpretation of Psalm 16

A. The Prayer of the Righteous (16:1-5)

In verse 2, he asks that the “sentence” (judgment) on him and (implied) his enemies be pronounced by the Lord Himself, who, David hopes, sees that he is right.

In verse 5, he asks that the Lord will help him to stay in these ways that are pleasing to Him, so that David’s feet do not falter in them.

B. Prayer for protection and protection (16:6-12)

Despite partial discrepancies, both the “resisters” and “rebels” are quite consistent with King Saul and his entourage.

The Psalter is remarkable because in it you can find examples of many life situations. The author of Psalm 16 lifts up during a time of persecution. A characteristic feature of the prayer is that the person saying it is completely confident that he is right. He is in danger, he is threatened by enemies, but still finds reliable refuge - the Lord Himself, whose righteousness is beyond doubt. Therefore, not everyone will dare to talk with the same way as David did.

Circumstances of writing the psalm

King David did not immediately become a rich and famous ruler. At first, he was an ordinary shepherd who did not even think about claiming power. The history of his life, including his accession to the throne, can be traced, in particular, through the psalms. Most of them he wrote himself, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. And although the texts were compiled in response to very specific life circumstances, Psalm 16 is filled with such deep meaning that it remains relevant in any time.

He was the youngest of eight children and worked as a sheep herder. But even in this traditional occupation he was able to prove himself as an extraordinary person. Seeing a wild beast, he did not run, but boldly entered into battle and won, protecting the cattle. Such devotion gave him an excellent reputation. In those days, livestock was expensive, so people highly valued shepherds who preserved the property entrusted to them.

The young shepherd had a pleasant appearance, he was strong, spoke well and was a skilled musician. After all, the psalter is nothing more than a stringed instrument. Therefore, David is often depicted precisely while chanting prayers, which he himself composed. The first king of Israel, Saul, provoked the wrath of God by being disobedient, stubborn, and harsh. The Lord made young David his chosen one, which he announced to him through the prophet Samuel.

Saul, who at first became very attached to the young man, soon became a sworn enemy, since he saw him as a rival.

Twice Saul tried to kill David, after which he was forced to flee.
guided the actions of His chosen one, sending him revelations.
Together with his followers, the young man found refuge with his former enemies. The king of the Philistines donated an entire city to the disgraced young man.

Saul was stubborn, so he pursued his opponent for a long time, although he repeatedly tried to make it clear that he did not want to take power from him by force. It was during this period that David turned to prayer.

Text of Psalm 16 in Russian

1 Hear, O Lord, [my] truth, listen to my cry, accept my prayer from the lips of the untruthful.

2 Let judgment come to me from Your presence; let Thy eyes look upon righteousness.

3 You tried my heart, you visited me by night, you tempted me and found nothing; My lips do not depart from my thoughts.

4 In the affairs of men, according to the word of Your mouth, I have kept myself from the ways of the oppressor.

5 Establish my steps in Your ways, so that my feet do not falter.

6 I cry to You, for You will hear me, O God; incline Your ear to me, hear my words.

7 Show Your wondrous mercy, O Savior of those who trust [in You] from those who resist Your right hand.

8 Guard me like the apple of your eye; shelter me in the shadow of your wings

9 From the presence of the wicked who attack me, from the enemies of my soul who surround me:

10 They are wrapped up in their fat, they speak arrogantly with their lips.

11 They surround us now at every step we take; they fixed their eyes to overthrow me to the ground;

12 They are like a lion thirsty for prey, like a skim sitting in hidden places.

13 Arise, O Lord, warn them, bring them down. Deliver my soul from the wicked by Your sword,

14 from people - by your hand, O Lord, from the people of the world, whose inheritance is this the lives whose bellies You fill from Your treasures; their sons are satisfied and will leave the remainder to their children.

15 But I will look upon Your face in righteousness; Having awakened, I will be satisfied with Your image.

Interpretation of Psalm 16

For the first acquaintance, it is better to take the Bible in Russian. Church Slavonic can be difficult to understand without special training. It is also better to read one of the explanations of Psalm 16, compiled by the church fathers - Athanasius the Great, etc. Let us consider the meaning of this chapter of the book of Psalms in more detail.

In form, this is a direct appeal from David to the Lord. In it he complains about his enemies, from whom he asks for protection.
The psalmist draws special attention to the fact that he did not commit a sin, did not try to “sit on” Saul. After all, the Lord himself chose David; he did not dream about it.
The first king of the Jews here appears as an evil wicked man who not only innocently persecutes David, but also goes against the will of God.

David is not at all trying to flaunt his righteousness or put pressure on the Creator. He begs Him to listen carefully to His arguments. Here, believers are given an example of how requests should be made. The petitioner talks about how he felt. His words are full of sincerity, free from any pretense and deceit.

The one who prays does not rely on human judgment. No, he resorts to the One who possesses the highest justice - the king of heaven, the Creator of the visible and invisible world. Saul and his followers treated David unfairly. Psalm 16 expresses confidence that the Lord sees everyone for who they really are. The great king appears as a deceiver, the humble shepherd as the future leader of Israel, the ancestor of the family from which Jesus Christ will come.

How to talk to God correctly

The future king in this text gives an excellent example of how to talk with heaven. First, you need to analyze your own life. David, when composing Psalm 16, was fully confident that he had behaved correctly. Even in his thoughts he did not hold anything against his opponent, but only fulfilled the will of God.

In verse 3, the author says that God tested him and found no sins or unrighteous deeds;
Verse 4 tells us to watch what comes out of people's lips, because words can be the source of unrighteous deeds;
In verse 5 he instructs that one should always walk according to the commandments, that is, walk in the ways of God.

Next comes the denunciation of the persecutors. Although they are noble and rich, David hopes that the Lord will hear and be fair. After all, real righteousness does not depend on the opinion of society, worldly fame, awards, etc. God's recognition cannot be bought with money. The author of Psalm 16 is confident that the dispassionate judge will carry out His judgment in ways that are available only to the Lord of heaven.

The future great king shows a wonderful example of humility and faith. Even finding himself in the middle of the desert, surrounded by strong enemies, he does not lose confidence that God will not forget him. In the final verse, David says that he will not follow the example of the wicked, but will fulfill the commandments and do righteous deeds.

In what cases is Psalm 16 used?

The Psalms are used for spiritual instruction of one's own soul. They are used in the services of the Orthodox and Catholic churches; Protestants also sing them under the arches of their churches. The Holy Fathers also explain why you need to read Psalm 16:

when it is necessary to hide from pursuers;
during troubles;
to avoid slander;
for protection from ill-wishers.

Life is often unfair, that's how this world works. Otherwise, we would not be able to prove our devotion and faith to the Lord. Even the best of people sometimes get into trouble. In such a situation, the main thing is to continue to rely on the Supreme Judge, fair and incorruptible.

Psalm 16 - why they read it, text in Russian, interpretation was last modified: April 29th, 2018 by Bogolub