Psalms 16:5

Lord, you give me stability and prosperity; ¹  you make my future secure. ² 

De 32:9; Ps 2:6; Ps 9:4; Ps 11:6; Ps 21:7-12; Ps 23:5; Ps 61:6,7; Ps 73:26; Ps 89:4,20-37; Ps 110:1,2; Ps 116:13; Ps 119:57; Ps 132:11,17,18; Ps 142:5; Isa 42:1; Isa 53:12; Jer 10:16; La 3:24; Ac 2:32; Ac 5:31; 1Co 15:25; Eph 5:18

¹ tn Heb “O Lord, the portion of my possession and my cup”; or “the Lord [is] the portion of my possession and my cup.” The psalmist compares the Lord to landed property, which was foundational to economic stability in ancient Israel, and to a cup of wine, which may symbolize a reward (in Ps 11:6 it symbolizes the judgment one deserves) or divine blessing (see Ps 23:5). The metaphor highlights the fact that God is the psalmist’s source of security and prosperity.

² tc Heb “you take hold of my lot.” The form תּוֹמִיךְ (tomikh) should be emended to a participle, תוֹמֵךְ (tomekh). The psalmist pictures the Lord as casting his lot (a method used to allot landed property) for him, thus assuring that he will receive a fertile piece of land (see v. 6). As in the previous line, land represents security and economic stability, thus “you make my future secure.”