TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
NEVI'IM
PROPHETS
KETUVIM
WRITINGS

Chapter 16

Listen to this chapter in Hebrew:

1A michtam of David. Protect me, O Hashem, for I seek refuge in You.

אמִכְתָּם לְדָוִד שָׁמְרֵנִי אֵל כִּי־חָסִיתִי בָךְ׃

2I say to Hashem, “You are my Lord, my benefactor; there is none above You.”

באָמַרְתְּ לַיהֹוָה אֲדֹנָי אָתָּה טוֹבָתִי בַּל־עָלֶיךָ׃

3As to the holy and mighty ones that are in the land, my whole desire concerning them is that

גלִקְדוֹשִׁים אֲשֶׁר־בָּאָרֶץ הֵמָּה וְאַדִּירֵי כָּל־חֶפְצִי־בָם׃

4those who espouse another [god] may have many sorrows! I will have no part of their bloody libations; their names will not pass my lips.

דיִרְבּוּ עַצְּבוֹתָם אַחֵר מָהָרוּ בַּל־אַסִּיךְ נִסְכֵּיהֶם מִדָּם וּבַל־אֶשָּׂא אֶת־שְׁמוֹתָם עַל־שְׂפָתָי׃

5Hashem is my allotted share and portion; You control my fate.

היְהֹוָה מְנָת־חֶלְקִי וְכוֹסִי אַתָּה תּוֹמִיךְ גּוֹרָלִי׃

6Delightful country has fallen to my lot; lovely indeed is my estate.

kha-va-LEEM na-f'-lu LEE ba-n'-i-MEEM af na-kha-LAT sha-f'-RAH a-LAI

וחֲבָלִים נָפְלוּ־לִי בַּנְּעִמִים אַף־נַחֲלָת שָׁפְרָה עָלָי׃

16:6   Delightful country has fallen to my lot; lovely indeed is my estate

The Land of Israel is divided into portions, one for each tribe. In Bamidbar (26:52-56), the Bible delineates the process by which each tribe was awarded its specific inheritance. On the one hand, the leaders of the nation are commanded to apportion the land with careful attention paid to ensure that each receives an appropriate inheritance: “With larger groups, increase the share; with smaller groups, reduce the share.” In addition, some tribes were seafarers, while others were vintners; some were mountain people and others preferred the planes, and the land was divided accordingly. On the other hand, though, the Torah tells us that a special divine lottery would be held to determine the inheritance of each tribe: “Each portion shall be assigned by lot, whether for larger or smaller groups.” This apparent contradiction contains a message to the tribes of Israel. On the one hand, conquering and colonizing the land is dependent on the effort and involvement of each individual. On the other hand, they must always be aware of the divine element in settling Eretz Yisrael.

7I bless Hashem who has guided me; my conscience admonishes me at night.

זאֲבָרֵךְ אֶת־יְהֹוָה אֲשֶׁר יְעָצָנִי אַף־לֵילוֹת יִסְּרוּנִי כִלְיוֹתָי׃

8I am ever mindful of Hashem's presence; He is at my right hand; I shall never be shaken.

חשִׁוִּיתִי יְהֹוָה לְנֶגְדִּי תָמִיד כִּי מִימִינִי בַּל־אֶמּוֹט׃

9So my heart rejoices, my whole being exults, and my body rests secure.

טלָכֵן שָׂמַח לִבִּי וַיָּגֶל כְּבוֹדִי אַף־בְּשָׂרִי יִשְׁכֹּן לָבֶטַח׃

10For You will not abandon me to Sheol, or let Your faithful one see the Pit.

יכִּי לֹא־תַעֲזֹב נַפְשִׁי לִשְׁאוֹל לֹא־תִתֵּן חֲסִידְךָ לִרְאוֹת שָׁחַת׃

11You will teach me the path of life. In Your presence is perfect joy; delights are ever in Your right hand.

יאתּוֹדִיעֵנִי אֹרַח חַיִּים שֹׂבַע שְׂמָחוֹת אֶת־פָּנֶיךָ נְעִמוֹת בִּימִינְךָ נֶצַח׃