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First Book—Psalms 1–41

Psalm 1[a]

True Happiness in God’s Law

I

Blessed is the man who does not walk
    in the counsel of the wicked,
Nor stand in the way[b] of sinners,
    nor sit in company with scoffers.(A)
Rather, the law of the Lord[c] is his joy;
    and on his law he meditates day and night.(B)
He is like a tree(C)
    planted near streams of water,
    that yields its fruit in season;
Its leaves never wither;
    whatever he does prospers.

II

But not so are the wicked,[d] not so!
    They are like chaff driven by the wind.(D)
Therefore the wicked will not arise at the judgment,
    nor will sinners in the assembly of the just.
Because the Lord knows the way of the just,(E)
    but the way of the wicked leads to ruin.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 1 A preface to the whole Book of Psalms, contrasting with striking similes the destiny of the good and the wicked. The Psalm views life as activity, as choosing either the good or the bad. Each “way” brings its inevitable consequences. The wise through their good actions will experience rootedness and life, and the wicked, rootlessness and death.
  2. 1:1 The way: a common biblical term for manner of living or moral conduct (Ps 32:8; 101:2, 6; Prv 2:20; 1 Kgs 8:36).
  3. 1:2 The law of the Lord: either the Torah, the first five books of the Bible, or, more probably, divine teaching or instruction.
  4. 1:4 The wicked: those who by their actions distance themselves from God’s life-giving presence.

Book I

The righteous and the wicked contrasted.

[a]Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the wicked,
Nor standeth in the way of sinners,
Nor sitteth in the seat of scoffers:
But his delight is in the law of Jehovah;
And on his law doth he meditate day and night.
And he shall be like a tree planted by the streams of water,
That bringeth forth its fruit in its season,
Whose leaf also doth not wither;
And [b]whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
The wicked are not so,
But are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.
Therefore the wicked shall not stand in the judgment,
Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
For Jehovah knoweth the way of the righteous;
But the way of the wicked shall perish.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 1:1 Or, Happy
  2. Psalm 1:3 Or, in whatsoever he doeth he shall prosper

BOOK I

Psalms 1–41

Psalm 1

Blessed 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)
but whose delight(H) is in the law of the Lord,(I)
    and who meditates(J) on his law day and night.
That 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)

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

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