Psalms 1

The Two Ways: Rooted in the LORD or Ruined Apart from Him

Separation from wickedness -> delight in Torah -> rooted fruitfulness -> wicked instability -> final divine distinction

World English Bible, Public Domain

The blessed person is guarded against counsel, conduct, and community that normalize rebellion against God.

Psalm 1:1–3

The righteous life is defined by its source: a deep, meditative rooting in God's Word that results in enduring spiritual vitality.

1 Blessed is the man who doesn’t walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand on the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers;

The righteous are shaped by continual meditation on the LORD's word.

2 but his delight is in Yahweh’s law. On his law he meditates day and night.

The righteous person lives from a supplied source, producing fruit in season and enduring without withering.

3 He will be like a tree planted by the streams of water, that produces its fruit in its season, whose leaf also does not wither. Whatever he does shall prosper.

The wicked are like chaff, scattered by the wind because they lack true rootedness.

Psalm 1:4–6

The destination of a life depends on its foundation; a life without God is weightless chaff destined for ruin, while a life in God is secure and known.

4 The wicked are not so, but are like the chaff which the wind drives away.

The righteous are known by the LORD, but the way of the wicked perishes.

5 Therefore the wicked shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.

6 For Yahweh knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked shall perish.

Key Terms

רְשָׁעִים reshaim H7563
חַטָּאִים chattaim H2400
לֵצִים letsim H3887
תּוֹרָה torah H8451
חֵפֶץ chephets H2656
יֶהְגֶּה yehgeh H1897
שָׁתוּל shatul H8362
פַּלְגֵי palge H6388
מֹץ mots H4671
דֶּרֶךְ derek H1870
יוֹדֵעַ yodea H3045

World English Bible (WEB): Public Domain Scripture text · License details