Psalms 16:8 (ASV)

Passage

I have set Jehovah always before me: Because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.

Nearby Context

Psalms 16:6 The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; Yea, I have a goodly heritage.

Psalms 16:7 I will bless Jehovah, who hath given me counsel; Yea, my heart instructeth me in the night seasons.

Psalms 16:8 I have set Jehovah always before me: Because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.

Psalms 16:9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth; My flesh also shall dwell in safety.

Psalms 16:10 For thou wilt not leave my soul to Sheol; Neither wilt thou suffer thy holy one to see corruption.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "jehovah", "always", "before", "right", "hand", "shall", and "moved". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "jehovah" and "always", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 7's "I will bless Jehovah who hath given..." into verse 9's "Therefore my heart is glad and my...", so "jehovah" and "always" belong inside that flow. In Psalms context, the local focus is worship, trust, the LORD's kingship, and covenant mercy.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "jehovah" and "always" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.