BOOK ONE

Psalms 1–41

The Way of the Righteous and the End of the Ungodly

Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;

For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the ungodly shall perish.

Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, And you perish in the way, When His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.

His ways are always prospering; Your judgments are far above, out of his sight; As for all his enemies, he sneers at them.

For I have kept the ways of the Lord, And have not wickedly departed from my God.

As for God, His way is perfect; The word of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him.

Good and upright is the Lord; Therefore He teaches sinners in the way.

The humble He guides in justice, And the humble He teaches His way.

Who is the man that fears the Lord? Him shall He teach in the way He chooses.

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.

Let their way be dark and slippery, And let the angel of the Lord pursue them.

Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass.

Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass.

The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, And He delights in his way.

Wait on the Lord, And keep His way, And He shall exalt you to inherit the land; When the wicked are cut off, you shall see it.

Prayer for Wisdom and Forgiveness

To the Chief Musician. To Jeduthun. A Psalm of David.

I said, “I will guard my ways, Lest I sin with my tongue; I will restrain my mouth with a muzzle, While the wicked are before me.”

This is the way of those who are foolish, And of their posterity who approve their sayings. Selah

Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners shall be converted to You.

Your way, O God, is in the sanctuary; Who is so great a God as our God?

Your way was in the sea, Your path in the great waters, And Your footsteps were not known.

Why have You broken down her hedges, So that all who pass by the way pluck her fruit?

All who pass by the way plunder him; He is a reproach to his neighbors.

For forty years I was grieved with that generation, And said, ‘It is a people who go astray in their hearts, And they do not know My ways.’

My eyes shall be on the faithful of the land, That they may dwell with me; He who walks in a perfect way, He shall serve me.

He weakened my strength in the way; He shortened my days.