BOOK I
(Psalms 1–41)

Psalm 1

The Two Ways

How happy is the man
who does not follow[a] the advice of the wicked
or take[b] the path of sinners
or join a group[c] of mockers!(A)
Instead, his delight is in the Lord’s instruction,
and he meditates on it day and night.(B)
He is like a tree planted beside streams of water[d]
that bears its fruit in season[e](C)
and whose leaf does not wither.(D)
Whatever he does prospers.(E)

The wicked are not like this;
instead, they are like chaff that the wind blows away.(F)
Therefore the wicked will not survive[f] the judgment,(G)
and sinners will not be in the community of the righteous.

For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous,(H)
but the way of the wicked leads to ruin.(I)

Psalm 2

Coronation of the Son

Why(J) do the nations rebel[g](K)
and the peoples plot in vain?(L)
The kings of the earth take their stand,(M)
and the rulers conspire together
against the Lord and His Anointed One:[h](N)
“Let us tear off their chains
and free ourselves from their restraints.”[i](O)

The One enthroned[j] in heaven laughs;
the Lord ridicules them.(P)
Then He speaks to them in His anger
and terrifies them in His wrath:(Q)
“I have consecrated My King[k]
on Zion, My holy mountain.”(R)

I will declare the Lord’s decree:
He said to Me, “You are My Son;[l]
today I have become Your[m] Father.(S)
Ask of Me,
and I will make the nations Your[n] inheritance
and the ends of the earth Your[o] possession.(T)
You will break[p] them with a rod of iron;
You[q] will shatter them like pottery.”[r](U)

10 So now, kings, be wise;
receive instruction, you judges of the earth.
11 Serve the Lord with reverential awe
and rejoice with trembling.(V)
12 Pay homage to[s] the Son or He[t] will be angry
and you will perish in your rebellion,[u](W)
for His[v] anger may ignite at any moment.(X)
All those who take refuge in Him[w] are happy.(Y)

Psalm 3

Confidence in Troubled Times

A psalm of David when he fled from his son Absalom.(Z)

Lord, how my foes increase!
There are many who attack me.(AA)
Many say about me,
“There is no help for him in God.”(AB)Selah

But You, Lord, are a shield around me,(AC)
my glory,(AD) and the One who lifts up my head.(AE)
I cry aloud to the Lord,
and He answers me from His holy mountain.(AF)Selah

I lie down and sleep;
I wake again because the Lord sustains me.(AG)
I am not afraid of the thousands of people
who have taken their stand against me on every side.(AH)

Rise up, Lord!(AI)
Save me, my God!
You strike all my enemies on the cheek;(AJ)
You break the teeth of the wicked.(AK)
Salvation belongs to the Lord;(AL)
may Your blessing be on Your people.(AM)Selah

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 1:1 Lit not walk in
  2. Psalm 1:1 Lit stand in
  3. Psalm 1:1 Or or sit in the seat
  4. Psalm 1:3 Or beside irrigation canals
  5. Psalm 1:3 Lit in its season
  6. Psalm 1:5 Lit stand in
  7. Psalm 2:1 Or conspire, or rage
  8. Psalm 2:2 Or anointed one
  9. Psalm 2:3 Lit and throw their ropes from us
  10. Psalm 2:4 Lit who sits
  11. Psalm 2:6 Or king
  12. Psalm 2:7 Or me, “You are My son
  13. Psalm 2:7 Or your
  14. Psalm 2:8 Or your
  15. Psalm 2:8 Or your
  16. Psalm 2:9 LXX, Syr, Tg read shepherd
  17. Psalm 2:9 Or you
  18. Psalm 2:9 Lit a potter’s vessel
  19. Psalm 2:12 Lit Kiss
  20. Psalm 2:12 Or son, otherwise he
  21. Psalm 2:12 Lit perish way
  22. Psalm 2:12 Or his
  23. Psalm 2:12 Or him

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