*Psalms 1

₁The Lord blesses people who

do not listen to someone who does wrong,

who do not go where sinners go,

and who do not sit down

with people who laugh at God.

₂He blesses people

who love what the Lord says

in his laws and think about

God's words every day and night.

₃People like that are like a tree

that grows next to a stream of water,

and which gives fruit at the right time

and always has green leaves.

They succeed in everything they do.

₄But sinful people are not like that.

People who do wrong are like chaff,

and the wind blows them away.

₅That is why the Lord will punish

people who do things that are wrong.

Sinners will not be able to go

where all the righteous people

come together with the Lord.

₆Yes, the Lord knows the ways

of those who do right,

but He will destroy sinners.