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.

He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the children of Israel.

They wandered in the wilderness in a desolate way; They found no city to dwell in.

And He led them forth by the right way, That they might go to a city for a dwelling place.

He pours contempt on princes, And causes them to wander in the wilderness where there is no way;

He shall drink of the brook by the wayside; Therefore He shall lift up the head.

Meditations on the Excellencies of the Word of God

א ALEPH

Blessed are the undefiled in the way, Who walk in the law of the Lord!

They also do no iniquity; They walk in His ways.

I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, As much as in all riches.

Make me understand the way of Your precepts; So shall I meditate on Your wonderful works.

Remove from me the way of lying, And grant me Your law graciously.

I have chosen the way of truth; Your judgments I have laid before me.

ה HE

Teach me, O Lord, the way of Your statutes, And I shall keep it to the end.

Through Your precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way.

Therefore all Your precepts concerning all things I consider to be right; I hate every false way.

As for such as turn aside to their crooked ways, The Lord shall lead them away With the workers of iniquity. Peace be upon Israel!

Blessings of Those Who Fear the Lord

A Song of Ascents.

Blessed is every one who fears the Lord, Who walks in His ways.

Yes, they shall sing of the ways of the Lord, For great is the glory of the Lord.

And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.

The proud have hidden a snare for me, and cords; They have spread a net by the wayside; They have set traps for me. Selah

When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, Then You knew my path. In the way in which I walk They have secretly set a snare for me.

Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning, For in You do I trust; Cause me to know the way in which I should walk, For I lift up my soul to You.

The Lord is righteous in all His ways, Gracious in all His works.

The Lord watches over the strangers; He relieves the fatherless and widow; But the way of the wicked He turns upside down.