Psalm 1-2

New International Version

BOOK I

Psalms 1–41

Psalm 1

¹Blessed is the one^(A)
    who does not walk^(B) in step with the wicked^(C)
or stand in the way^(D) that sinners take^(E)
    or sit^(F) in the company of mockers,^(G)
²but whose delight^(H) is in the law of the Lord,^(I)
    and who meditates^(J) on his law day and night.
³That person is like a tree^(K) planted by streams^(L) of water,^(M)
    which yields its fruit^(N) in season
and whose leaf^(O) does not wither—
    whatever they do prospers.^(P)

⁴Not so the wicked!
    They are like chaff^(Q)
    that the wind blows away.
⁵Therefore the wicked will not stand^(R) in the judgment,^(S)
    nor sinners in the assembly^(T) of the righteous.

⁶For the Lord watches over^(U) the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.^(V)

Psalm 2

¹Why do the nations conspire^[a]
    and the peoples plot^(W) in vain?
²The kings^(X) of the earth rise up
    and the rulers band together
    against the Lord and against his anointed,^(Y) saying,
³“Let us break their chains^(Z)
    and throw off their shackles.”^(AA)

⁴The One enthroned^(AB) in heaven laughs;^(AC)
    the Lord scoffs at them.
⁵He rebukes them in his anger^(AD)
    and terrifies them in his wrath,^(AE) saying,
⁶“I have installed my king^(AF)
    on Zion,^(AG) my holy mountain.^(AH)”

⁷I will proclaim the Lord’s decree:

He said to me, “You are my son;^(AI)
    today I have become your father.^(AJ)
⁸Ask me,
    and I will make the nations^(AK) your inheritance,^(AL)
    the ends of the earth^(AM) your possession.
⁹You will break them with a rod of iron^[b];^(AN)
    you will dash them to pieces^(AO) like pottery.^(AP)”

¹⁰Therefore, you kings, be wise;^(AQ)
    be warned, you rulers^(AR) of the earth.
¹¹Serve the Lord with fear^(AS)
    and celebrate his rule^(AT) with trembling.^(AU)
¹²Kiss his son,^(AV) or he will be angry
    and your way will lead to your destruction,
for his wrath^(AW) can flare up in a moment.
    Blessed^(AX) are all who take refuge^(AY) in him.

Footnotes

Psalm 2:1 Hebrew; Septuagint rage
Psalm 2:9 Or will rule them with an iron scepter (see Septuagint and Syriac)

Psalm 10

New International Version

Psalm 10^[a]

¹Why, Lord, do you stand far off?^(A)
Why do you hide yourself^(B) in times of trouble?

²In his arrogance the wicked man hunts down the weak,^(C)
    who are caught in the schemes he devises.
³He boasts^(D) about the cravings of his heart;
    he blesses the greedy and reviles the Lord.^(E)
⁴In his pride the wicked man does not seek him;
    in all his thoughts there is no room for God.^(F)
⁵His ways are always prosperous;
    your laws are rejected by^[b] him;
    he sneers at all his enemies.
⁶He says to himself, “Nothing will ever shake me.”
    He swears, “No one will ever do me harm.”^(G)

⁷His mouth is full^(H) of lies and threats;^(I)
    trouble and evil are under his tongue.^(J)
⁸He lies in wait^(K) near the villages;
    from ambush he murders the innocent.^(L)
His eyes watch in secret for his victims;
⁹    like a lion in cover he lies in wait.
He lies in wait to catch the helpless;^(M)
    he catches the helpless and drags them off in his net.^(N)
¹⁰His victims are crushed,^(O) they collapse;
    they fall under his strength.
¹¹He says to himself, “God will never notice;^(P)
    he covers his face and never sees.”^(Q)

¹²Arise,^(R) Lord! Lift up your hand,^(S) O God.
    Do not forget the helpless.^(T)
¹³Why does the wicked man revile God?^(U)
    Why does he say to himself,
    “He won’t call me to account”?^(V)
¹⁴But you, God, see the trouble^(W) of the afflicted;
    you consider their grief and take it in hand.
The victims commit themselves to you;^(X)
    you are the helper^(Y) of the fatherless.
¹⁵Break the arm of the wicked man;^(Z)
    call the evildoer to account for his wickedness
    that would not otherwise be found out.

¹⁶The Lord is King for ever and ever;^(AA)
    the nations^(AB) will perish from his land.
¹⁷You, Lord, hear the desire of the afflicted;^(AC)
    you encourage them, and you listen to their cry,^(AD)
¹⁸defending the fatherless^(AE) and the oppressed,^(AF)
    so that mere earthly mortals
    will never again strike terror.

Footnotes

Psalm 10:1 Psalms 9 and 10 may originally have been a single acrostic poem in which alternating lines began with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet. In the Septuagint they constitute one psalm.
Psalm 10:5 See Septuagint; Hebrew / they are haughty, and your laws are far from