The happiness of the godly, 1-3. The unhappiness of the ungodly, 4-6.
1 Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the ungodly,/
nor stands in the way of sinners,/
nor sits in the seat of scoffers.
2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD,/
and on his law he meditates day and night.
3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water/
that brings forth its fruit in season,/
and its leaf shall not wither./
And whatever he does shall prosper.
4 The ungodly are not so,/
but are like the chaff which the wind drives away.
5 Therefore, the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment,/
nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
6 For the LORD knows the way of the righteous./
But the way of the ungodly shall perish.
Matthew Henry Commentary - Psalms, Chapter 1[➚]
John Calvin's Chapter Summary:
He who collected the Psalms into one volume, whether Ezra or some other person, appears to have placed this Psalm at the beginning, by way of preface, in which he inculcates upon all the godly the duty of meditating upon the law of God. The sum and substance of the whole is, that they are blessed who apply their hearts to the pursuit of heavenly wisdom; whereas the profane despisers of God, although for a time they may reckon themselves happy, shall at length have a most miserable end.
[v.2] - "It is not left to every man to frame a system of religion according to his own judgment, but the standard of godliness is to be taken from the Word of God." —John Calvin