Psalm 1:1 kjv
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.
Psalm 1:1 nkjv
Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
Psalm 1:1 niv
Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers,
Psalm 1:1 esv
Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
Psalm 1:1 nlt
Oh, the joys of those who do not
follow the advice of the wicked,
or stand around with sinners,
or join in with mockers.
Psalm 1 1 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Matt 5:3-12 | "Blessed are the poor in spirit... blessed are those who mourn..." | The Beatitudes describe qualities of blessed individuals. |
| Lk 6:20-22 | "Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God." | Parallel to Matthew, showing characteristics leading to blessedness. |
| Ps 32:1-2 | "Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven..." | True blessedness found in reconciliation with God. |
| Ps 84:4-5 | "Blessed are those who dwell in your house..." | Blessedness found in nearness to God and His dwelling. |
| Prov 4:14-15 | "Do not enter the path of the wicked; do not walk in the way of evildoers." | Direct command to avoid the wicked, echoing Ps 1:1's admonition. |
| Prov 13:20 | "Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm." | The consequence of chosen company, reinforcing Ps 1:1. |
| 2 Cor 6:14-17 | "Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers... Come out from among them..." | NT instruction for believers to separate from ungodly associations. |
| Rom 12:2 | "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed..." | Rejection of the world's counsel and ways, aligning with Ps 1:1's spirit. |
| Eph 5:11 | "Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them." | Command to not participate in ungodly actions, similar to Ps 1:1's warnings. |
| Jas 4:4 | "Friendship with the world is enmity with God." | Emphasizes the opposition between alignment with the world and with God. |
| Jer 7:24 | "But they did not listen or incline their ear, but stiffened their neck and did worse than their fathers." | Warnings against not following divine counsel, but listening to other influences. |
| Is 30:1 | "Ah, stubborn children, declares the Lord, who carry out a plan, but not mine..." | Rebukes those who follow counsel other than God's. |
| Ps 26:4-5 | "I do not sit with men of falsehood, nor do I consort with hypocrites. I hate the assembly of evildoers, and I will not sit with the wicked." | David's resolve to separate from the wicked, aligning directly with Ps 1:1. |
| Prov 1:10 | "My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent." | A direct call to resist the allure of sinful influences and counsel. |
| Prov 9:6 | "Leave your simple ways, and live, and walk in the way of insight." | Call to abandon folly and choose the path of wisdom and life. |
| Jude 1:18-19 | "They told you that in the last time there would be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions." | Mentions scoffers and their ungodly passions, connecting to "scornful." |
| Ps 73:2-3 | "But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled, my steps had nearly slipped. For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked." | Illustrates the temptation to be swayed by the wicked, before seeing their end. |
| Ps 1:2-6 | "But his delight is in the law of the Lord... The Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish." | The immediate context of Ps 1:1, contrasting the righteous and the wicked. |
| Mt 7:13-14 | "Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction..." | Two ways, one leading to life (righteous) and one to destruction (wicked). |
| Rev 22:14 | "Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life..." | Final biblical picture of blessedness, contingent on right living. |
Psalm 1 verses
Psalm 1 1 Meaning
Psalm 1:1 declares the blessedness of the individual who separates himself from the ungodly and their influence. It outlines a progression of negative actions to avoid: adopting the advice of the wicked, participating in the practices of sinners, and finally, aligning oneself with those who mock God. This verse sets the stage for the entire Psalm, highlighting a foundational principle of wisdom: discerning and choosing the path of righteousness by rejecting evil associations and their destructive influences, thus positioning oneself to receive divine favor and flourishing.
Psalm 1 1 Context
Psalm 1 serves as the foundational prologue to the entire Book of Psalms. It immediately sets a tone that contrasts two distinct paths or lifestyles: that of the righteous and that of the wicked. This dualism is a common theme in Old Testament wisdom literature (like Proverbs and Job). Historically and culturally, the Jewish people understood their national prosperity and individual well-being to be directly tied to their adherence to God's covenant and His Law (Torah). This verse reflects the core Deuteronomic principle of blessing for obedience and curses for disobedience, emphasizing the critical choice individuals face between embracing God's way and aligning with worldly, ungodly ways. It invites the reader to adopt a discerning perspective that will permeate their understanding of the Psalms as they unfold.
Psalm 1 1 Word analysis
- Blessed (אַשְׁרֵי – ʾashrê): Not merely a feeling of happiness, but a state of spiritual flourishing, profound well-being, and favor from God. It denotes the objective declaration of God’s delight over a person’s condition. This blessedness is rooted in right relationship with God and proper conduct.
- is the man (הָאִישׁ – hāʾîš): "The man" here refers generically to humanity, highlighting the individual person, often specifically the person who makes deliberate moral choices. It refers to anyone, male or female, who chooses this path.
- who walks not (לֹא הָלַךְ – lōʾ hālakh): "Walks" signifies the direction of one's life, daily conduct, lifestyle, and general course of behavior. The negation "not" indicates a deliberate abstention.
- in the counsel (בַּעֲצַת – baʿăṣat): Refers to the advice, plans, moral principles, or guiding influence received from others. It is the internal disposition or direction.
- of the ungodly / of the wicked (רְשָׁעִים – rĕšāʿîm): Those who are actively estranged from God, morally perverse, living in open rebellion against divine law, and whose very being is characterized by unrighteousness. They are lawless.
- nor stands (וּבְדֶרֶךְ – ūvederek... לֹא עָמָד – lōʾ ʿāmāḏ): "Stands" indicates taking a firmer posture, lingering, remaining, or identifying with. It suggests a more fixed and intentional presence in a particular sphere. The phrase is rendered "nor stands in the path" in English.
- in the path / in the way (דֶּרֶךְ – derek): The course of action, practices, or mode of life. It’s more external and behavioral than "counsel."
- of sinners (חַטָּאִים – ḥaṭṭāʾîm): Those who habitually miss the mark, err from God's commands, or engage in active wrongdoing. They violate specific laws.
- nor sits (לֹא יָשַׁב – lōʾ yāšav): "Sits" implies a settled position, comfortable association, taking up residence, or participating in a regular capacity. It denotes the deepest level of agreement, commitment, and even endorsement.
- in the seat (בְּמוֹשַׁב – bemôšav): A place of rest, dwelling, fellowship, or even authority.
- of the scornful / of scoffers (לֵצִים – lēṣîm): Those who openly mock, ridicule, or despise divine truth, spiritual values, and God's authority. They are beyond simple error or sin; they are defiantly contemptuous of God and wisdom.
Words-group analysis
- "walks not... stands not... sits not": This forms a striking literary device known as a "climax of involvement" or progressive intensification.
- Walks: Refers to initial, perhaps even inadvertent, contact or a transient association. It's about taking the first step.
- Stands: Implies a longer stay, dwelling, or more deliberate choice to participate and identify. One stops to linger.
- Sits: Represents settling down, taking root, full identification, or even occupying a position of fellowship and leadership amongst them. This is the deepest level of adoption of their ways. The blessed individual abstains from all three stages of contamination.
- "counsel of the ungodly... path of sinners... seat of the scornful": These objects of involvement also follow a progressive escalation in depth and severity.
- Counsel: Concerns the realm of thought, advice, and mental influence—internal principles.
- Path: Pertains to external actions, daily practices, and patterns of behavior.
- Seat: Signifies deep fellowship, identification, and even solidarity or belonging within the sphere of open rebellion against God.
- "ungodly... sinners... scornful": These groups represent increasing degrees of evil and hostility toward God.
- Ungodly: Generally wicked or alienated from God, not necessarily active rebels but characterized by lack of piety.
- Sinners: Those who habitually violate God’s laws, actively missing the mark.
- Scornful: Those who mock and ridicule God, His word, and righteous living; they are defiant and contemptuous.
Psalm 1 1 Bonus section
- Wisdom Literature Emphasis: Psalm 1 functions as a sapiential (wisdom) psalm, laying the foundation for ethical discernment characteristic of the Wisdom Books. It immediately presents the "two ways"—the way of the righteous and the way of the wicked—a foundational concept throughout the Old Testament and further developed in Proverbs.
- Negative Definition of Blessedness: Uniquely, Psalm 1:1 begins by defining blessedness through exclusion, highlighting the necessity of purification from negative influences before fully embracing the positive delight in God's law presented in verse 2.
- Introduction to the Psalter: As the opening verse of the Psalms, it introduces the core theological theme of the entire collection: the righteous who trust in God's Word and live by it, finding refuge and blessing, versus the wicked whose paths lead to destruction. This sets a hermeneutical lens for interpreting the subsequent laments, praises, and instructions within the Psalter.
Psalm 1 1 Commentary
Psalm 1:1, through its progressive structure, defines blessedness not by what one does, but by what one refuses to do. It's a striking opening that sets a negative example to delineate the positive path to God's favor. The progression from walking to standing to sitting illustrates increasing entanglement: from fleeting exposure to prolonged participation, and finally to comfortable residence in wickedness. Correspondingly, the types of ungodliness also deepen, from simply lacking godliness (ungodly) to committing overt wrongs (sinners), to active and defiant rebellion (scoffers). True blessedness, therefore, begins with a decisive separation from every form of evil influence, from the internal thoughts of the wicked to their overt actions and defiant associations. This requires discernment and active choices to abstain from compromising fellowship that leads away from God. This separation is foundational for delighting in God's Law, as mentioned in the subsequent verse, thus charting the path of true wisdom.