Psalm 1–2

BOOK I

(Psalms 1–41)

Psalm 1

THE TWO WAYS

¹How happy is the one who does not

walk in the advice of the wicked

or stand in the pathway with sinners

or sit in the company of mockers!^a

²Instead, his delight is in the Lord’s instruction,

and he meditates on it day and night.^b

³He is like a tree planted beside flowing streams^A

that bears its fruit in its season,^c

and its leaf does not wither.^d

Whatever he does prospers.^e

⁴The wicked are not like this;

instead, they are like chaff that the wind blows away.^f

⁵Therefore the wicked will not stand up in the judgment,^g

nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.

⁶For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous,^h

but the way of the wicked leads to ruin.ⁱ

Psalm 2

CORONATION OF THE SON

¹Why^j do the nations rage^k

and the peoples plot in vain?^l

²The kings of the earth take their stand,^m

and the rulers conspire together

against the Lord and his Anointed One:^Bn

³“Let’s tear off their chains

and throw their ropes off of us.”^o

⁴The one enthroned^C in heaven laughs;

the Lord ridicules them.^p

⁵Then he speaks to them in his anger

and terrifies them in his wrath:^q

⁶“I have installed my king

on Zion, my holy mountain.”^r

⁷I will declare the Lord’s decree.

He said to me, “You are my Son;

today I have become your Father.^s

⁸Ask of me,

and I will make the nations your inheritance

and the ends of the earth your possession.^t

⁹You will break them with an iron scepter;

you will shatter them like pottery.”^u

¹⁰So now, kings, be wise;

receive instruction, you judges of the earth.

¹¹Serve the Lord with reverential awe

and rejoice with trembling.^v

¹²Pay homage to^A the Son or he will be angry

and you will perish in your rebellion,^Bw

for his anger may ignite at any moment.^x

All who take refuge in him are happy.^y