Psalms 1

1 BOOK FIRST: Happy is the man who walketh not in the council of the wicked, and standeth not in the way of sinners, and sitteth not in the seat of scorners;

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.

2 But whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who doth meditate in his law by day and night.

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

3 And he shall be like a tree planted by rivulets of water, that yieldeth its fruit in its season, and the leaf of which doth not wither; and all that he may do shall prosper.

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

4 Not so the wicked; but they are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.

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

5 Therefore shall the wicked not be able to stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.

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

6 For the Lord regardeth the way of the righteous; but the way of the wicked leadeth to perdition.

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