Psalm 1

Book 1(Psalms 1-41)

1 How blessed is the one who does not follow the advice of the wicked,
or stand in the pathway with sinners,
or sit in the assembly of scoffers!

2 Instead he finds pleasure in obeying the Lord’s commands;
he meditates on his commands day and night.

3 He is like a tree planted by flowing streams;
it yields its fruit at the proper time,
and its leaves never fall off.
He succeeds in everything he attempts.

4 Not so with the wicked!
Instead they are like wind-driven chaff.

5 For this reason the wicked cannot withstand judgment,
nor can sinners join the assembly of the godly.

6 Certainly the Lord guards the way of the godly,
but the way of the wicked ends in destruction.

PSALMS 1

BOOK I

(Psalms 1–41)

The Way to Happiness

1 God blesses those people
who refuse evil advice
and won't follow sinners
or join in sneering at God.

2 Instead, they find happiness
in the Teaching of the [Lord],
and they think about it
day and night.

3  t They are like trees
growing beside a stream,
trees that produce
fruit in season
and always have leaves.
Those people succeed
in everything they do.

4 That isn't true of those
who are evil—
they are like straw
blown by the wind.

5 Sinners won't have an excuse
on the day of judgment,
and they won't have a place
with the people of God.

6 The [Lord] protects everyone
who follows him,
but the wicked follow a road
that leads to ruin.