Psalm 1 - 2

The Way of the Righteous and the Wicked

Book One

1
Blessed is the man 1
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 2 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.

Psalms 2

The Reign of the Lord's Anointed

1 r Why do s the nations rage 3
and the peoples plot in vain?
 2 The kings of the earth set themselves,
and the rulers take counsel together,
against the Lord and against his t Anointed, saying,
 3 "Let us u burst their bonds apart
and cast away their cords from us."

4 He who v sits in the heavens w laughs;
the Lord holds them in derision.
 5 Then he will speak to them in his x wrath,
and terrify them in his fury, saying,
 6 "As for me, I have y set my King
on z Zion, my a holy hill."

7 I will tell of the decree:
The Lord said to me, b "You are my Son;
today I have begotten you.
 8 Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage,
and c the ends of the earth your possession.
 9 You shall d break 4 them with e a rod of iron
and dash them in pieces like f a potter's vessel."

10 Now therefore, O kings, be wise;
be warned, O rulers of the earth.
 11 g Serve the Lord with h fear,
and i rejoice with h trembling.
 12 j Kiss k the Son,
lest he be angry, and you perish in the way,
for his l wrath is quickly kindled.
m Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

  1. Cross References
    Proverbs 4:14 - 15
    Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of the evil.
  2. Cross References
    Job 21:16
    Behold, is not their prosperity in their hand? The counsel of the wicked is far from me.
  3. Cross References
    Proverbs 1:10
    My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent.
  4. Cross References
    Psalms 26:4
    I do not sit with men of falsehood, nor do I consort with hypocrites.
    Jeremiah 15:17
    I did not sit in the company of revelers, nor did I rejoice; I sat alone, because your hand was upon me, for you had filled me with indignation.
  5. Cross References
    Psalms 107:32
    Let them extol him in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders.
  6. Cross References
    Proverbs 1:22
    How long, O simple ones, will you love being si...
    Proverbs 3:34
    Toward the scorners he is scornful, but to the ...
    Proverbs 19:29
    Condemnation is ready for scoffers, and beating...
    Proverbs 21:24
    Scoffer" is the name of the arrogant, haughty m...
    Proverbs 29:8
    Scoffers set a city aflame, but the wise turn a...
    Isaiah 28:14
    Therefore hear the word of the Lord, you scoffe...
  7. Cross References
    Psalms 112:1
    Praise the Lord! Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in his commandments!
    Psalms 119:35
    Lead me in the path of your commandments, for I delight in it.
    Psalms 119:47
    For I find my delight in your commandments, which I love.
    Psalms 119:92
    If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction.
  8. Cross References
    Psalms 119:1
    Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord!
    Psalms 119:97
    Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day.
    Joshua 1:8
    This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
  9. Cross References
    Jeremiah 17:8
    He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.
    Ezekiel 19:10
    Your mother was like a vine in a vineyard planted by the water, fruitful and full of branches by reason of abundant water.
    Numbers 24:6
    Like palm groves that stretch afar, like gardens beside a river, like aloes that the Lord has planted, like cedar trees beside the waters.
    Job 29:19
    My roots spread out to the waters, with the dew all night on my branches.
  10. Cross References
    Psalms 46:4
    There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High.
  11. Cross References
    Ezekiel 47:12
    And on the banks, on both sides of the river, there will grow all kinds of trees for food. Their leaves will not wither, nor their fruit fail, but they will bear fresh fruit every month, because the water for them flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for healing.
    Isaiah 34:4
    All the host of heaven shall rot away, and the skies roll up like a scroll. All their host shall fall, as leaves fall from the vine, like leaves falling from the fig tree.
  12. Cross References
    Genesis 39:3
    His master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord caused all that he did to succeed in his hands.
    Genesis 39:23
    The keeper of the prison paid no attention to anything that was in Joseph's charge, because the Lord was with him. And whatever he did, the Lord made it succeed.
    Psalms 128:2
    You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you.
    Isaiah 3:10
    Tell the righteous that it shall be well with them, for they shall eat the fruit of their deeds.
  13. Cross References
    Job 21:18
    That they are like straw before the wind, and like chaff that the storm carries away?
  14. Cross References
    Psalms 5:5
    The boastful shall not stand before your eyes; you hate all evildoers.
    Psalms 76:7
    But you, you are to be feared! Who can stand before you when once your anger is roused?
    Nahum 1:6
    Who can stand before his indignation? Who can endure the heat of his anger? His wrath is poured out like fire, and the rocks are broken into pieces by him.
    Luke 21:36
    But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.
    Ephesians 6:13
    Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.
  15. Cross References
    Ezekiel 13:9
    My hand will be against the prophets who see false visions and who give lying divinations. They shall not be in the council of my people, nor be enrolled in the register of the house of Israel, nor shall they enter the land of Israel. And you shall know that I am the Lord God.
  16. Cross References
    Psalms 31:7
    I will rejoice and be glad in your steadfast lo...
    Psalms 37:18
    The Lord knows the days of the blameless, and t...
    Psalms 144:3
    O Lord, what is man that you regard him, or the...
    Nahum 1:7
    The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of tr...
    John 10:14
    I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my ow...
    2 Timothy 2:19
    But God's firm foundation stands, bearing this ...
  17. Cross References
    Psalms 37:5
    Commit your way to the Lord ; trust in him, and he will act.
  18. Cross References
    Acts 4:25 - 26
    Who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit, "'Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples plot in vain?
  19. Cross References
    Psalms 46:6
    The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts.
  20. Cross References
    Psalms 18:50
    Great salvation he brings to his king, and shows steadfast love to his anointed, to David and his offspring forever.
    Psalms 20:6
    Now I know that the Lord saves his anointed; he will answer him from his holy heaven with the saving might of his right hand.
    Psalms 45:7
    You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness. Therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.
    Psalms 89:20
    I have found David, my servant; with my holy oil I have anointed him.
  21. Cross References
    Jeremiah 5:5
    I will go to the great and will speak to them, for they know the way of the Lord, the justice of their God." But they all alike had broken the yoke; they had burst the bonds.
  22. Cross References
    Psalms 11:4
    The Lord is in his holy temple; the Lord 's throne is in heaven; his eyes see, his eyelids test the children of man.
    Psalms 29:10
    The Lord sits enthroned over the flood; the Lord sits enthroned as king forever.
    Isaiah 40:22
    It is he who sits above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers; who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them like a tent to dwell in.
  23. Cross References
    Psalms 37:13
    But the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he sees that his day is coming.
    Psalms 59:8
    But you, O Lord, laugh at them; you hold all the nations in derision.
    Job 22:19
    The righteous see it and are glad; the innocent one mocks at them.
    Proverbs 1:26
    I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when terror strikes you.
  24. Cross References
    Revelation 6:16 - 17
    Calling to the mountains and rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb.
  25. Cross References
    Proverbs 8:23
    Ages ago I was set up, at the first, before the beginning of the earth.
  26. Cross References
    2 Samuel 5:7
    Nevertheless, David took the stronghold of Zion, that is, the city of David.
    Psalms 110:2
    The Lord sends forth from Zion your mighty scepter. Rule in the midst of your enemies!
  27. Cross References
    Psalms 3:4
    I cried aloud to the Lord, and he answered me from his holy hill. Selah
    Psalms 15:1
    O Lord, who shall sojourn in your tent? Who shall dwell on your holy hill?
    Psalms 43:3
    Send out your light and your truth; let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling!
    Psalms 99:9
    Exalt the Lord our God, and worship at his holy mountain; for the Lord our God is holy!
  28. Cross References
    Romans 1:4
    And was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord.
    Acts 13:33
    This he has fulfilled to us their children by raising Jesus, as also it is written in the second Psalm, "'You are my Son, today I have begotten you.
    Hebrews 1:5
    For to which of the angels did God ever say, "You are my Son, today I have begotten you"? Or again, "I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son"?
    Hebrews 5:5
    So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him, "You are my Son, today I have begotten you".
  29. Cross References
    Psalms 72:8
    May he have dominion from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth!
    Psalms 89:27
    And I will make him the firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth.
    Daniel 7:14
    And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.
  30. Cross References
    Psalms 89:23
    I will crush his foes before him and strike down those who hate him.
    Job 34:24
    He shatters the mighty without investigation and sets others in their place.
  31. Cross References
    Revelation 2:27
    And he will rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father.
    Revelation 12:5
    She gave birth to a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to his throne.
    Revelation 19:15
    From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty.
  32. Cross References
    Isaiah 30:14
    And its breaking is like that of a potter's vessel that is smashed so ruthlessly that among its fragments not a shard is found with which to take fire from the hearth, or to dip up water out of the cistern.
    Jeremiah 19:11
    And shall say to them, 'Thus says the Lord of hosts: So will I break this people and this city, as one breaks a potter's vessel, so that it can never be mended. Men shall bury in Topheth because there will be no place else to bury.
  33. Cross References
    Hebrews 12:28
    Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe.
  34. Cross References
    Philippians 2:12
    Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
  35. Cross References
    Philippians 2:12
    Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
  36. Cross References
    Philippians 4:4
    Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.
  37. Cross References
    1 Samuel 10:1
    Then Samuel took a flask of oil and poured it on his head and kissed him and said, "Has not the Lord anointed you to be prince over his people Israel? And you shall reign over the people of the Lord and you will save them from the hand of their surrounding enemies. And this shall be the sign to you that the Lord has anointed you to be prince over his heritage.
    1 Kings 19:18
    Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.
    John 5:23
    That all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.
  38. Cross References
    Proverbs 31:2
    What are you doing, my son? What are you doing, son of my womb? What are you doing, son of my vows?
  39. Cross References
    Psalms 2:5
    Then he will speak to them in his wrath, and terrify them in his fury, saying.
  40. Cross References
    Psalms 34:8
    Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blesse...
    Psalms 84:12
    O Lord of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts ...
    Proverbs 16:20
    Whoever gives thought to the word will discover...
    Jeremiah 17:7
    Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whos...
    Psalms 146:5
    Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, w...
    Isaiah 30:18
    Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you,...
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.