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Book 1

(Psalms 1-41)

Great blessings belong to those
    who don’t listen to evil advice,
who don’t live like sinners,
    and who don’t join those who make fun of God.[a]
Instead, they love the Lord’s teachings
    and think about them day and night.
So they grow strong,
    like a tree planted by a stream—
a tree that produces fruit when it should
    and has leaves that never fall.
Everything they do is successful.

But the wicked are not like that.
    They are like chaff that the wind blows away.
When the time for judgment comes, the wicked will be found guilty.
    Sinners have no place among those who do what is right.[b]
The Lord shows his people how to live,
    but the wicked have lost their way.

Why are the nations so angry?
    Why are the people making such foolish plans?
Their kings and leaders join together
    to fight against the Lord and his chosen king.[c]
They say, “Let’s rebel against them.
    Let’s break free from them!”

But the one who rules in heaven laughs at them.
    The Lord makes fun of them.
He speaks to them in anger,
    and it fills them with fear.
He says, “I have chosen this man to be king,
    and he will rule on Zion, my holy mountain.”

Let me tell you about the Lord’s agreement:
He said to me, “Today I have become your father,[d]
    and you are my son.
If you ask, I will give you the nations.
    Everyone on earth will be yours.
You will rule over them with great power.
    You will scatter your enemies like broken pieces of pottery!”

10 So, kings and rulers, be smart
    and learn this lesson.
11 Serve the Lord with fear and trembling.
12 Show that you are loyal to his son,[e]
    or the Lord will be angry and destroy you.
He is almost angry enough to do that now,
    but those who go to him for protection will be blessed.

A song of David written during the time he was running from his son Absalom.

Lord, I have so many enemies.
    So many people have turned against me.
They say to themselves, “God will not rescue him!” Selah

But you, Lord, protect me.
    You bring me honor;
    you give me hope.

I will pray to the Lord,
    and he will answer me from his holy mountain. Selah

I can lie down to rest and know that I will wake up,
    because the Lord covers and protects me.
So I will not be afraid of my enemies,
    even if thousands of them surround me.

Lord, get up![f]
    My God, come rescue me!
If you hit my enemies on the cheek,
    you will break all their teeth.

Lord, the victory[g] is yours!
    You are so good to your people. Selah

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 1:1 Or “The one who does not follow the advice of the wicked or turn onto Sinners Road or stay at Scoffers’ House is blessed.”
  2. Psalm 1:5 Or “The wicked will not be allowed to sit as judges nor sinners in the meeting of good people.”
  3. Psalm 2:2 his chosen king Or “his anointed one.”
  4. Psalm 2:7 I have become your father Literally, “I fathered you.” Originally, this probably meant God was “adopting” the king as his son.
  5. Psalm 2:12 Show … his son Literally, “Kiss the son.”
  6. Psalm 3:7 Lord, get up The people said this when they lifted the Box of the Agreement and took it into battle, showing that God was with them. See Num. 10:35-36.
  7. Psalm 3:8 victory Or “salvation.”

BOOK I

Psalms 1–41

Psalm 1

Blessed is the one(A)
    who does not walk(B) in step with the wicked(C)
or stand in the way(D) that sinners take(E)
    or sit(F) in the company of mockers,(G)
but whose delight(H) is in the law of the Lord,(I)
    and who meditates(J) on his law day and night.
That person is like a tree(K) planted by streams(L) of water,(M)
    which yields its fruit(N) in season
and whose leaf(O) does not wither—
    whatever they do prospers.(P)

Not so the wicked!
    They are like chaff(Q)
    that the wind blows away.
Therefore the wicked will not stand(R) in the judgment,(S)
    nor sinners in the assembly(T) of the righteous.

For the Lord watches over(U) the way of the righteous,
    but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.(V)

Psalm 2

Why do the nations conspire[a]
    and the peoples plot(W) in vain?
The kings(X) of the earth rise up
    and the rulers band together
    against the Lord and against his anointed,(Y) saying,
“Let us break their chains(Z)
    and throw off their shackles.”(AA)

The One enthroned(AB) in heaven laughs;(AC)
    the Lord scoffs at them.
He rebukes them in his anger(AD)
    and terrifies them in his wrath,(AE) saying,
“I have installed my king(AF)
    on Zion,(AG) my holy mountain.(AH)

I will proclaim the Lord’s decree:

He said to me, “You are my son;(AI)
    today I have become your father.(AJ)
Ask me,
    and I will make the nations(AK) your inheritance,(AL)
    the ends of the earth(AM) your possession.
You will break them with a rod of iron[b];(AN)
    you will dash them to pieces(AO) like pottery.(AP)

10 Therefore, you kings, be wise;(AQ)
    be warned, you rulers(AR) of the earth.
11 Serve the Lord with fear(AS)
    and celebrate his rule(AT) with trembling.(AU)
12 Kiss his son,(AV) or he will be angry
    and your way will lead to your destruction,
for his wrath(AW) can flare up in a moment.
    Blessed(AX) are all who take refuge(AY) in him.

Psalm 3[c]

A psalm of David. When he fled from his son Absalom.(AZ)

Lord, how many are my foes!
    How many rise up against me!
Many are saying of me,
    “God will not deliver him.(BA)[d]

But you, Lord, are a shield(BB) around me,
    my glory, the One who lifts my head high.(BC)
I call out to the Lord,(BD)
    and he answers me from his holy mountain.(BE)

I lie down and sleep;(BF)
    I wake again,(BG) because the Lord sustains me.
I will not fear(BH) though tens of thousands
    assail me on every side.(BI)

Arise,(BJ) Lord!
    Deliver me,(BK) my God!
Strike(BL) all my enemies on the jaw;
    break the teeth(BM) of the wicked.

From the Lord comes deliverance.(BN)
    May your blessing(BO) be on your people.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 2:1 Hebrew; Septuagint rage
  2. Psalm 2:9 Or will rule them with an iron scepter (see Septuagint and Syriac)
  3. Psalm 3:1 In Hebrew texts 3:1-8 is numbered 3:2-9.
  4. Psalm 3:2 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verses 4 and 8.