BLESSED IS THE ONE

Passage: Psalms 1:1-6

Key verse: 2

NIV

BOOK I

Psalms 1–41

Psalm 1

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)
2 but whose delight(H) is in the law of the Lord,(I)
    and who meditates(J) on his law day and night.
3 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)

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

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

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Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Book One

The Way of the Righteous and the Wicked

1 Blessed is the man[a]
    who (A)walks not in (B)the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in (C)the way of sinners,
    nor (D)sits in (E)the seat of (F)scoffers;
2 but his (G)delight is in the law[b] of the Lord,
    and on his (H)law he meditates day and night.

3 He is like (I)a tree
    planted by (J)streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
    and its (K)leaf does not wither.
(L)In all that he does, he prospers.
4 The wicked are not so,
    but are like (M)chaff that the wind drives away.

5 Therefore the wicked (N)will not stand in the judgment,
    nor sinners in (O)the congregation of the righteous;
6 for the Lord (P)knows (Q)the way of the righteous,
    but the way of the wicked will perish.

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Footnotes
  1. Psalm 1:1 The singular Hebrew word for man (ish) is used here to portray a representative example of a godly person; see Preface
  2. Psalm 1:2 Or instruction
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

Psalm 1 sets the tone and conditions for all the psalms for being blessed. First of all, people blessed by God do not befriend evil. They don’t walk with the wicked, stand with sinners or sit with mockers. Jesus was the friend of sinners, but he didn’t agree with their sinful behaviors. Rather, he was always clear to help and save them, not condone their sin. We must avoid getting close to those who have no interest in God (Prov 13:2

).

Secondly, blessed people love God’s law, that is, his word. They delight in God’s word and meditate on it all day long. They are like a prosperous, fruitful tree planted by water. In contrast, wicked people follow their own ideas, rules and feelings. They have no root and are blown away by the wind, like tumbleweed. Wicked people won’t stand in God’s judgment. Their way leads to destruction. But the way of the righteous leads to life, for the LORD watches over it (Mt 7:13-14).

Prayer: Lord, I delight in your words, for they are true and right and lead to life. May I avoid wickedness, sin, mocking and folly. May I earnestly pursue righteousness, holiness and your kingdom. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

One Word: Blessed is the one who avoids evil and loves God’s word