Psalms

Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

1Happy is the person who does not take advice from people who do wrong. He does not join sinners in the things they do. He does not sit with people who laugh at what is good.

Note"Blessed" here means happy and well cared for. "The scornful" are people who make fun of others and of what is right.

2But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

2Instead, he loves the teaching of the LORD. He thinks about that teaching all day and all night.

3And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

3He is like a tree planted beside streams of water. It grows fruit at the right time of year. Its leaves stay green and healthy. Everything he does goes well.

4The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.

4People who do wrong are not like that at all. They are like dry husks that the wind blows away.

NoteChaff is the dry outer shell of grain. Farmers tossed grain in the air so wind carried the chaff away. It was light and worth nothing.

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

5So people who do wrong will not stand up when God judges. Sinners will have no place among God's good people.

6For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

6The LORD watches over the path of good people. But the path of those who do wrong comes to an end.