"You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand."
— Psalm 16:11 (NIV)
Psalm 16:11 is the "in your presence is fullness of joy" verse. This page gives the verse, where it sits in Psalm 16, and a plain reading. For more on the theme, see Bible verses about joy, Love and joy, and Bible verses about God's presence.
Free PDF
Get the free 30 Days of Love Verses PDF
Sign up for the daily Bible verse email, and get the free 30 Days of Love Verses PDF. 30 Days of Love Verses · Open the PDF
The verse
The King James reads: "Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore."
"Path" is orach (H734), a road or way, and "life" is chay (H2416). "Fulness" is soba (H7648), to be filled up, and "joy" is simchah (H8057). "Presence" is panim (H6440), literally "face." "Pleasures" comes from naim (H5273), pleasant or delightful, and "for evermore" is netsach (H5331).
Where it sits in Psalm 16
Psalm 16 is a psalm of David. It opens, "Keep me safe, my God, for in you I take refuge" (Psalm 16:1). Verse 8 says, "I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken."
Verses 9-10 give the reason for gladness: "you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, nor will you let your faithful one see decay." Peter quotes Psalm 16:8-11 at Pentecost and applies it to Jesus' resurrection (Acts 2:25-28).
What the verse is saying
The verse ends the psalm with three gifts: God shows the path of life, he fills with joy in his presence, and he gives pleasures that last forever. Joy here is not tied to circumstances. It comes from being near God himself.
The "path of life" runs past death, which is why the apostles read the psalm as pointing to the resurrection. Romans 15:13 prays for the same thing: that "the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him." See also Philippians 4:4.
Questions people ask
What does Psalm 16:11 say?
In the NIV it says, "You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand." The KJV says, "in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore."
What does "fullness of joy" mean in Psalm 16:11?
The Hebrew word soba means to be filled up or satisfied. The verse says joy is full, not partial, in God's presence.
Who wrote Psalm 16?
The heading credits David.
Is Psalm 16:11 quoted in the New Testament?
Yes. Peter quotes Psalm 16:8-11 in his sermon at Pentecost (Acts 2:25-28), applying it to Jesus' resurrection.
What other verses talk about joy in God's presence?
Romans 15:13 (may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace), Philippians 4:4 (rejoice in the Lord always), and Psalm 30:5 (rejoicing comes in the morning) are close companions.
