Psalm 1:1–3:8

The Way of the Righteous and the Wicked

1 Blessed is the man1

who awalks not in bthe counsel of the wicked,

nor stands in cthe way of sinners,

nor dsits in ethe seat of fscoffers;

2  but his gdelight is in the law2 of the Lord,

and on his hlaw he meditates day and night.

3  He is like ia tree

planted by jstreams of water

that yields its fruit in its season,

and its kleaf does not wither.

lIn all that he does, he prospers.

4  The wicked are not so,

but are like mchaff that the wind drives away.

5  Therefore the wicked nwill not stand in the judgment,

nor sinners in othe congregation of the righteous;

6  for the Lord pknows qthe way of the righteous,

but the way of the wicked will perish.

The Reign of the Lord’s Anointed

2 rWhy do sthe nations rage1

and the peoples plot in vain?

2  The kings of the earth set themselves,

and the rulers take counsel together,

against the Lord and against his tAnointed, saying,

3  “Let us uburst their bonds apart

and cast away their cords from us.”

4  He who vsits in the heavens wlaughs;

the Lord holds them in derision.

5  Then he will speak to them in his xwrath,

and terrify them in his fury, saying,

6  “As for me, I have yset my King

on zZion, my aholy hill.”

7  I will tell of the decree:

The Lord said to me, b“You are my Son;

today I have begotten you.

8  Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage,

and cthe ends of the earth your possession.

9  You shall dbreak2 them with ea rod of iron

and dash them in pieces like fa potter’s vessel.”

10  Now therefore, O kings, be wise;

be warned, O rulers of the earth.

11  gServe the Lord with hfear,

and irejoice with htrembling.

12  jKiss kthe Son,

lest he be angry, and you perish in the way,

for his lwrath is quickly kindled.

mBlessed are all who take refuge in him.

Save Me, O My God

3 A Psalm of David, nwhen he fled from Absalom his son.

1  O Lord, ohow many are my foes!

Many are prising against me;

2  many are saying of my soul,

q“There is no salvation for him in God.” Selah1

3  But you, O Lord, are ra shield sabout me,

my glory, and tthe lifter of my head.

4  I ucried aloud to the Lord,

and he vanswered me from his wholy hill. Selah

5  I xlay down and slept;

I woke again, for the Lord sustained me.

6  I ywill not be afraid of many thousands of people

who have zset themselves against me all around.

7  aArise, O Lord!

Save me, O my God!

For you bstrike all my enemies on the cheek;

you cbreak the teeth of the wicked.

8  dSalvation belongs to the Lord;

your blessing be on your people! Selah