What does Psalms Chapter 15 say, and which statements belong to its speaker?

Atlas of Saints · Chapter summary

The speaker asks preservation and names the Lord his inheritance and cup. He rejects blood-offering meetings and sets the Lord at his right hand. Future rest, preservation from corruption and joy remain expressed hope; the edition’s Christ-victory heading is distinct.

Chapter breakdown

The Latin incipit is Conserva me, Domine. The separate heading describes Christ's future victory and triumph over the world and death. The inscription is an inscription of a title to David himself. A separate note calls staylographia a pillar or monument, explaining that the psalm is worthy of being engraved as an everlasting monument. The speaker asks preservation because he trusts God. He says to the Lord that He is his God and has no need of his goods. Of the saints in His land, he says God made all his desires wonderful in them.

The psalm says their infirmities multiplied and afterward they made haste. The speaker will not gather their meetings for blood offerings or remember their names through his lips; the verse does not expressly name false gods here. The Lord is the portion of his inheritance and cup and will restore his inheritance. Lines fell in goodly places and his inheritance is goodly. He blesses the Lord who gave understanding, with his reins correcting him until night, and sets the Lord always in sight at his right hand so he is not moved.

He says his heart was glad and tongue rejoiced; his flesh shall rest in hope. God will not leave his soul in hell or let His holy one see corruption. God made life's ways known and shall fill him with joy through His countenance; delights are at His right hand to the end. These statements retain the poem's future expressions rather than report a completed resurrection.

The story inside

Opening: The speaker asks preservation and names the Lord his inheritance and cup. Development: He rejects blood-offering meetings and sets the Lord at his right hand. Conclusion: Future rest, preservation from corruption and joy remain expressed hope; the edition’s Christ-victory heading is distinct.

Lessons worth keeping

1
The speaker asks preservation and names the Lord his inheritance and cup.
2
He rejects blood-offering meetings and sets the Lord at his right hand.
3
Future rest, preservation from corruption and joy remain expressed hope; the edition’s Christ-victory heading is distinct.

Test your recall

Which images and requests does the speaker use, and what does the chapter leave unresolved?

Source edition and notes

Douay–Rheims, revised by Richard Challoner (1749–1752). Project Gutenberg no. 1581. Locators refer to lines in the admitted pg1581.txt edition. Source notes may include Challoner commentary.

Lines 58456–58458
The inscription of a title.... That is, of a pillar or monument, staylographia: which is as much as to say, that this psalm is most worthy to be engraved on an everlasting monument.
Lines 58460–58461
thou art my God, for thou hast no need of my goods.
Lines 58470–58471
The Lord is the portion of my inheritance and of my cup: it is thou that wilt restore my inheritance to me.
Lines 58485–58486
Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; nor wilt thou give thy holy one to see corruption.
Lines 58488–58490
Thou hast made known to me the ways of life, thou shalt fill me with joy with thy countenance: at thy right hand are delights even to the end.