Psalms 1

1 Happy are those who don't follow the advice of the wicked. They refuse to adopt the ways of sinful people, and they don't make fun of others.

Happy are those who do not follow the counsel of the wicked, not halting in ways frequented by sinners, nor taking a seat in a gathering of scoffers.

2 Instead they love to do what the law of the Lord says, and they think about it day and night.

But the law of the Lord is their joy, they study it day and night.

3 They're like trees growing by flowing rivers, producing fruit every season. Their leaves never wither, and they are successful in all they do.

They are like trees planted by runlets of water, yielding fruit in due season, leaves never fading. In all that they do, they prosper.

4 But it's not like that for the wicked! They are like chaff, blown away by the wind.

Not so fare the wicked, not so; like chaff are they, blown by the wind.

5 For this reason the wicked will not survive the judgment—sinners have no place among those who live right.

So the wicked will not stand firm in the judgment, nor sinners appear, when the righteous are gathered.

6 For the Lord watches over those who follow the right way, but the way of the wicked leads to death.

For the way of the righteous is dear to the Lord, but the way of the wicked will end in ruin.