The Hebrew word naim (נָעִים), “delightful,” is rare, only appearing 22 times in the Bible. Psalm 16 uses it twice, each time at the very end of one of its two halves.

The first comes as the psalmist surveys his inheritance: “The lines have fallen for me in the most delightful places” (v. 6). The second closes the psalm: “delights in your right hand — forever.” (v. 11). English hides the echo behind two different words. In Hebrew, they are the same.

The halves mirror each other in other ways too. Each begins with the psalmist speaking to YHWH (vv. 2, 7). And each has the underworld at its center. In the first half, others take the side of “the holy ones who are in the earth” (v. 3). In the second, the psalmist says, “you will not abandon my soul to Sheol” (v. 10).

The person who declares exclusive allegiance to YHWH (v. 2) will get to celebrate YHWH’s protection (v. 7). The person who rejects the cult of the dead (v. 3) will be rescued from death (v. 10)..The person who delights in YHWH now (v. 6) will experience YHWH’s delights forever (v. 11).

Read more on psalms.scriptura.org → Psalm 16 Poetic Features