Book One

The Way of the Righteous and the Wicked

Blessed is the man[a]
    who (A)walks not in (B)the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in (C)the way of sinners,
    nor (D)sits in (E)the seat of (F)scoffers;
but his (G)delight is in the law[b] of the Lord,
    and on his (H)law he meditates day and night.

He is like (I)a tree
    planted by (J)streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
    and its (K)leaf does not wither.
(L)In all that he does, he prospers.
The wicked are not so,
    but are like (M)chaff that the wind drives away.

Therefore the wicked (N)will not stand in the judgment,
    nor sinners in (O)the congregation of the righteous;
for the Lord (P)knows (Q)the way of the righteous,
    but the way of the wicked will perish.

The Reign of the Lord's Anointed

(R)Why do (S)the nations rage[c]
    and the peoples plot in vain?
The kings of the earth set themselves,
    and the rulers take counsel together,
    against the Lord and against his (T)Anointed, saying,
“Let us (U)burst their bonds apart
    and cast away their cords from us.”

He who (V)sits in the heavens (W)laughs;
    the Lord holds them in derision.
Then he will speak to them in his (X)wrath,
    and terrify them in his fury, saying,
“As for me, I have (Y)set my King
    on (Z)Zion, my (AA)holy hill.”

I will tell of the decree:
The Lord said to me, (AB)“You are my Son;
    today I have begotten you.
Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage,
    and (AC)the ends of the earth your possession.
You shall (AD)break[d] them with (AE)a rod of iron
    and dash them in pieces like (AF)a potter's vessel.”

10 Now therefore, O kings, be wise;
    be warned, O rulers of the earth.
11 (AG)Serve the Lord with (AH)fear,
    and (AI)rejoice with (AJ)trembling.
12 (AK)Kiss (AL)the Son,
    lest he be angry, and you perish in the way,
    for his (AM)wrath is quickly kindled.
(AN)Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

Save Me, O My God

A Psalm of David, (AO)when he fled from Absalom his son.

O Lord, (AP)how many are my foes!
    Many are (AQ)rising against me;
many are saying of my soul,
    (AR)“There is no salvation for him in God.” Selah[e]

But you, O Lord, are (AS)a shield (AT)about me,
    my glory, and (AU)the lifter of my head.
I (AV)cried aloud to the Lord,
    and he (AW)answered me from his (AX)holy hill. Selah

I (AY)lay down and slept;
    I woke again, for the Lord sustained me.
I (AZ)will not be afraid of many thousands of people
    who have (BA)set themselves against me all around.

(BB)Arise, O Lord!
    Save me, O my God!
For you (BC)strike all my enemies on the cheek;
    you (BD)break the teeth of the wicked.

(BE)Salvation belongs to the Lord;
    your blessing be on your people! Selah

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 1:1 The singular Hebrew word for man (ish) is used here to portray a representative example of a godly person; see Preface
  2. Psalm 1:2 Or instruction
  3. Psalm 2:1 Or nations noisily assemble
  4. Psalm 2:9 Revocalization yields (compare Septuagint) You shall rule
  5. Psalm 3:2 The meaning of the Hebrew word Selah, used frequently in the Psalms, is uncertain. It may be a musical or liturgical direction

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)

Psalm 2

Why do the nations conspire[a]
    and the peoples plot(W) in vain?
The kings(X) of the earth rise up
    and the rulers band together
    against the Lord and against his anointed,(Y) saying,
“Let us break their chains(Z)
    and throw off their shackles.”(AA)

The One enthroned(AB) in heaven laughs;(AC)
    the Lord scoffs at them.
He rebukes them in his anger(AD)
    and terrifies them in his wrath,(AE) saying,
“I have installed my king(AF)
    on Zion,(AG) my holy mountain.(AH)

I will proclaim the Lord’s decree:

He said to me, “You are my son;(AI)
    today I have become your father.(AJ)
Ask me,
    and I will make the nations(AK) your inheritance,(AL)
    the ends of the earth(AM) your possession.
You will break them with a rod of iron[b];(AN)
    you will dash them to pieces(AO) like pottery.(AP)

10 Therefore, you kings, be wise;(AQ)
    be warned, you rulers(AR) of the earth.
11 Serve the Lord with fear(AS)
    and celebrate his rule(AT) with trembling.(AU)
12 Kiss his son,(AV) or he will be angry
    and your way will lead to your destruction,
for his wrath(AW) can flare up in a moment.
    Blessed(AX) are all who take refuge(AY) in him.

Psalm 3[c]

A psalm of David. When he fled from his son Absalom.(AZ)

Lord, how many are my foes!
    How many rise up against me!
Many are saying of me,
    “God will not deliver him.(BA)[d]

But you, Lord, are a shield(BB) around me,
    my glory, the One who lifts my head high.(BC)
I call out to the Lord,(BD)
    and he answers me from his holy mountain.(BE)

I lie down and sleep;(BF)
    I wake again,(BG) because the Lord sustains me.
I will not fear(BH) though tens of thousands
    assail me on every side.(BI)

Arise,(BJ) Lord!
    Deliver me,(BK) my God!
Strike(BL) all my enemies on the jaw;
    break the teeth(BM) of the wicked.

From the Lord comes deliverance.(BN)
    May your blessing(BO) be on your people.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 2:1 Hebrew; Septuagint rage
  2. Psalm 2:9 Or will rule them with an iron scepter (see Septuagint and Syriac)
  3. Psalm 3:1 In Hebrew texts 3:1-8 is numbered 3:2-9.
  4. Psalm 3:2 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verses 4 and 8.