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.

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

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