Psalm 1–2

BOOK I

(Psalms 1–41)

Psalm 1

The Two Ways

¹How happy is the man

who does not follow ^athe advice of the wicked

or take ^bthe path of sinners

or join a group ^cof mockers! ^d

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

and he meditates on it day and night. ^e

³He is like a tree planted beside streams of water ^f

that bears its fruit in season ^gh

and whose leaf does not wither. ⁱ

Whatever he does prospers. ^j

⁴The wicked are not like this;

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

⁵Therefore the wicked will not survive ^lthe judgment, ^m

and sinners will not be in the community of the righteous.

⁶For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, ⁿ

but the way of the wicked leads to ruin. ^o

Psalm 2

Coronation of the Son

¹Why ^pdo the nations rebel ^qr

and the peoples plot in vain? ^s

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

and the rulers conspire together

against the Lord and His Anointed One: ^uv

³“Let us tear off their chains

and free ourselves from their restraints.” ^wx

⁴The One enthroned ^yin heaven laughs;

the Lord ridicules them. ^z

⁵Then He speaks to them in His anger

and terrifies them in His wrath: ^a

⁶“I have consecrated My King ^b

on Zion, My holy mountain.” ^c

⁷I will declare the Lord’s decree:

He said to Me, “You are My Son; ^d

today I have become Your ^eFather. ^f

⁸Ask of Me,

and I will make the nations Your ^ginheritance

and the ends of the earth Your ^hpossession. ⁱ

⁹You will break ^jthem with a rod of iron;

You ^kwill shatter them like pottery.” ^lm

¹⁰So now, kings, be wise;

receive instruction, you judges of the earth.

¹¹Serve the Lord with reverential awe

and rejoice with trembling. ⁿ

¹²Pay homage to ^othe Son or He ^pwill be angry

and you will perish in your rebellion, ^qr

for His ^sanger may ignite at any moment. ^t

All those who take refuge in Him ^uare happy. ^v