Psalm 1–2

Two Ways to Live

1Happy are those who don’t listen to the wicked,

who don’t go where sinners go,

who don’t do what evil people do.

²They love the Lord’s teachings,

and they think about those teachings day and night.

³They are strong, like a tree planted by a river.

The tree produces fruit in season,

and its leaves don’t die.

Everything they do will succeed.

⁴But wicked people are not like that.

They are like chaff that the wind blows away.

⁵So the wicked will not escape God’s punishment.

Sinners will not worship with God’s people.

⁶This is because the Lord takes care of his people,

but the wicked will be destroyed.

The Lord’s Chosen King

2Why are the nations so angry?

Why are the people making useless plans?

²The kings of the earth prepare to fight,

and their leaders make plans together

against the Lord

and his appointed one.

³They say, “Let’s break the chains that hold us back

and throw off the ropes that tie us down.”

⁴But the one who sits in heaven laughs;

the Lord makes fun of them.

⁵Then the Lord warns them

and frightens them with his anger.

⁶He says, “I have appointed my own king

to rule in Jerusalem on my holy mountain, Zion.”

⁷Now I will tell you what the Lord has declared:

He said to me, “You are my son.

Today I have become your father.

⁸If you ask me, I will give you the nations;

all the people on earth will be yours.

⁹You will rule over them with an iron rod.

You will break them into pieces like pottery.”

¹⁰So, kings, be wise;

rulers, learn this lesson.

¹¹Obey the Lord with great fear.

Be happy, but tremble.

¹²Show that you are loyal to his son,

or you will be destroyed by his anger,

because he can quickly become angry.

But happy are those who trust him for protection.