Psalm 1 | English Standard Version

The Way of the Righteous and the Wicked

1 Blessed is the man* who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; 2 but his delight is in the law* of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. 3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. 4 The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. 5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; 6 for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

New International Reader’s Version

1 Blessed is the person who obeys the law of the LORD. They don’t follow the advice of evil people. They don’t make a habit of doing what sinners do. They don’t join those who make fun of the LORD and his law. 2 Instead, the law of the LORD gives them joy. They think about his law day and night. 3 That kind of person 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. 4 Sinful people are not like that at all. They are like straw that the wind blows away. 5 When the LORD judges them, their life will come to an end. Sinners won’t have any place among those who are godly. 6 The LORD watches over the lives of godly people. But the lives of sinful people will lead to their death.

Psalm 1 | English Standard Version New International Reader’s Version

The Way of the Righteous and the Wicked