Psalms 16:3 (GNV)

Passage

But to the Saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent: all my delite is in them.

Nearby Context

Psalms 16:1 Michtam of Dauid. Preserue mee, O God: for in thee doe I trust.

Psalms 16:2 O my soule, thou hast sayd vnto the Lord, Thou art my Lord: my weldoing extendeth not to thee,

Psalms 16:3 But to the Saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent: all my delite is in them.

Psalms 16:4 The sorowes of them, that offer to an other god, shall be multiplied: their offerings of blood will I not offer, neither make mention of their names with my lips.

Psalms 16:5 The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou shalt mainteine my lot.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "saints", "earth", "excellent", and "delite". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "saints" and "earth", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 2's "O my soule thou hast sayd vnto..." into verse 4's "The sorowes of them that offer to...", so "saints" and "earth" 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 "saints" and "earth" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.