Psalm 1–2

BOOK I

Psalms 1–41

Psalm 1

¹Blessed is the one who obeys the law of the Lord.

He doesn’t follow the advice of evil people.

He doesn’t make a habit of doing what sinners do.

He doesn’t join those who make fun of the Lord and his law.

²Instead, he takes delight in the law of the Lord.

He thinks about his law day and night.

³He is like a tree that is planted near a stream of water.

It always bears its fruit at the right time.

Its leaves don’t dry up.

Everything godly people do turns out well.

⁴Sinful people are not like that at all.

They are like straw

that the wind blows away.

⁵When the Lord judges them, their life will come to an end.

Sinners won’t have any place among those who are godly.

⁶The Lord watches over the lives of those who are godly.

But the lives of sinful people will lead to their death.

Psalm 2

¹Why do the nations plan evil together?

Why do they make useless plans?

²The kings of the earth take their stand against the Lord.

The rulers of the earth gather together against his anointed king.

³“Let us break free from their chains,” they say.

“Let us throw off their ropes.”

⁴The One who sits on his throne in heaven laughs.

The Lord makes fun of those rulers and their plans.

⁵When he is angry, he warns them.

When his anger blazes out, he terrifies them.

⁶He says to them,

“I have placed my king on my holy mountain of Zion.”

⁷I will announce what the Lord has promised.

He said to me, “You are my son.

Today I have become your father.

⁸Ask me, and I will give the nations to you.

All nations on earth will belong to you.

⁹You will rule them with an iron rod.

You will break them to pieces like clay pots.”

¹⁰Kings, be wise!

Rulers of the earth, be warned!

¹¹Serve the Lord and have respect for him.

Serve him with joy and trembling.

¹²Obey the son completely, or he will be angry.

Your way of life will lead to your death.

His anger can blaze out at any moment.

Blessed are all those who go to him for safety.