Psalm 1-4

New King James Version

BOOK ONE

Psalms 1–41

The Way of the Righteous and the End of the Ungodly

1 Blessed ^(A)is the man
Who walks not in the counsel of the ^[a]ungodly,
Nor stands in the path of sinners,
^(B)Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
²But ^(C)his delight is in the law of the Lord,
^(D)And in His law he ^[b]meditates day and night.
³He shall be like a tree
^(E)Planted by the ^[c]rivers of water,
That brings forth its fruit in its season,
Whose leaf also shall not wither;
And whatever he does shall ^(F)prosper.

⁴The ungodly are not so,
But are ^(G)like the chaff which the wind drives away.
⁵Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment,
Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.

⁶For ^(H)the Lord knows the way of the righteous,
But the way of the ungodly shall perish.

The Messiah’s Triumph and Kingdom^(I)

2 Why ^(J)do the ^[d]nations ^[e]rage,
And the people plot a ^[f]vain thing?
²The kings of the earth set themselves,
And the ^(K)rulers take counsel together,
Against the Lord and against His ^(L)Anointed,^[g] saying,
³“Let ^(M)us break Their bonds in pieces
And cast away Their cords from us.”

⁴He who sits in the heavens ^(N)shall laugh;
The Lord shall hold them in derision.
⁵Then He shall speak to them in His wrath,
And distress them in His deep displeasure:
⁶“Yet I have ^[h]set My King
^[i]On My holy hill of Zion.”

⁷“I will declare the ^[j]decree:
The Lord has said to Me,
^(O)‘You are My Son,
Today I have begotten You.
⁸Ask of Me, and I will give You
The nations for Your inheritance,
And the ends of the earth for Your possession.
⁹^(P)You shall ^[k]break them with a rod of iron;
You shall dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel.’ ”

¹⁰Now therefore, be wise, O kings;
Be instructed, you judges of the earth.
¹¹Serve the Lord with fear,
And rejoice with trembling.
¹²^[l]Kiss the Son, lest ^[m]He be angry,
And you perish in the way,
When ^(Q)His wrath is kindled but a little.
^(R)Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.

The Lord Helps His Troubled People

A Psalm of David ^(S)when he fled from Absalom his son.

3 Lord, how they have increased who trouble me!
Many are they who rise up against me.
²Many are they who say of me,
“There is no help for him in God.” Selah

³But You, O Lord, are ^(T)a shield ^[n]for me,
My glory and ^(U)the One who lifts up my head.
⁴I cried to the Lord with my voice,
And ^(V)He heard me from His ^(W)holy hill. Selah

⁵^(X)I lay down and slept;
I awoke, for the Lord sustained me.
⁶^(Y)I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people
Who have set themselves against me all around.

⁷Arise, O Lord;
Save me, O my God!
^(Z)For You have struck all my enemies on the cheekbone;
You have broken the teeth of the ungodly.
⁸^(AA)Salvation belongs to the Lord.
Your blessing is upon Your people. Selah

The Safety of the Faithful

To the ^[o]Chief Musician. With stringed instruments. A Psalm of David.

4 Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness!
You have relieved me in my distress;
^[p]Have mercy on me, and hear my prayer.

²How long, O you sons of men,
Will you turn my glory to shame?
How long will you love worthlessness
And seek falsehood? Selah
³But know that ^(AB)the Lord has ^[q]set apart for Himself him who is godly;
The Lord will hear when I call to Him.

⁴^(AC)Be^[r] angry, and do not sin.
^(AD)Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still. Selah
⁵Offer ^(AE)the sacrifices of righteousness,
And ^(AF)put your trust in the Lord.

⁶There are many who say,
“Who will show us any good?”
^(AG)Lord, lift up the light of Your countenance upon us.
⁷You have put ^(AH)gladness in my heart,
More than in the season that their grain and wine increased.
⁸^(AI)I will both lie down in peace, and sleep;
^(AJ)For You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.