Psalm 15–16

A David Psalm

¹15God, who gets invited

to dinner at your place?

How do we get on your guest list?

²“Walk straight,

act right,

tell the truth.

^3–4“Don’t hurt your friend,

don’t blame your neighbor;

despise the despicable.

⁵“Keep your word even when it costs you,

make an honest living,

never take a bribe.

“You’ll never get

blacklisted

if you live like this.”

A David Song

^1–216Keep me safe, O God,

I’ve run for dear life to you.

I say to God, “Be my Lord!”

Without you, nothing makes sense.

³And these God-chosen lives all around—

what splendid friends they make!

⁴Don’t just go shopping for a god.

Gods are not for sale.

I swear I’ll never treat god-names

like brand-names.

^5–6My choice is you, God, first and only.

And now I find I’m your choice!

You set me up with a house and yard.

And then you made me your heir!

^7–8The wise counsel God gives when I’m awake

is confirmed by my sleeping heart.

Day and night I’ll stick with God;

I’ve got a good thing going and I’m not letting go.

^9–10I’m happy from the inside out,

and from the outside in, I’m firmly formed.

You canceled my ticket to hell—

that’s not my destination!

¹¹Now you’ve got my feet on the life path,

all radiant from the shining of your face.

Ever since you took my hand,

I’m on the right way.