Psalms 1-2

Psalm 1

¹Happy is the man who does not go in the company of sinners, or take his place in the way of evil-doers, or in the seat of those who do not give honour to the Lord.

²But whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and whose mind is on his law day and night.

³He will be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, which gives its fruit at the right time, whose leaves will ever be green; and he will do well in all his undertakings.

⁴The evil-doers are not so; but are like the dust from the grain, which the wind takes away.

⁵For this cause there will be no mercy for sinners when they are judged, and the evil-doers will have no place among the upright,

⁶Because the Lord sees the way of the upright, but the end of the sinner is destruction.

Psalm 2

¹Why are the nations so violently moved, and why are the thoughts of the people so foolish?

²The kings of the earth have taken their place, and the rulers are fixed in their purpose, against the Lord, and against the king of his selection, saying,

³Let their chains be broken, and their cords taken from off us.

⁴Then he whose seat is in the heavens will be laughing: the Lord will make sport of them.

⁵Then will his angry words come to their ears, and by his wrath they will be troubled:

⁶But I have put my king on my holy hill of Zion.

⁷I will make clear the Lord's decision: he has said to me, You are my son, this day have I given you being.

⁸Make your request to me, and I will give you the nations for your heritage, and the farthest limits of the earth will be under your hand.

⁹They will be ruled by you with a rod of iron; they will be broken like a potter's vessel.

¹⁰So now be wise, you kings: take his teaching, you judges of the earth.

¹¹Give worship to the Lord with fear, kissing his feet and giving him honour,

¹²For fear that he may be angry, causing destruction to come on you, because he is quickly moved to wrath. Happy are all those who put their faith in him.