Psalm 1

The Way of the Righteous and the End of the Ungodly
¹ 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;
² But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
³ He shall be like a tree
Planted by the rivers of water,
That brings forth its fruit in its season,
Whose leaf also 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.

Psalm 2

The Messiah's Triumph and Kingdom
¹ Why do the nations rage,
        And the people plot a vain thing?
        ² The kings of the earth set themselves,
        And the rulers take counsel together,
        Against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying,
        ³ "Let us break Their bonds in pieces
        And cast away Their cords from us."
        ⁴ He who sits in the heavens shall laugh;
        The LORD shall hold them in derision.
        ⁵ Then He shall speak to them in His wrath,
        And distress them in His deep displeasure:
        ⁶ "Yet I have set My King
        On My holy hill of Zion."
        ⁷ "I will declare the decree:
        The LORD has said to Me,
        "You are My Son,
        Today I have begotten You.
        ⁸ Ask of Me, and I will give You
        The nations for Your inheritance,
        And the ends of the earth for Your possession.
        ⁹ You shall break^[1] them with a rod of iron;
        You shall dash them to pieces like a potter's vessel."'
        ¹⁰ Now therefore, be wise, O kings;
        Be instructed, you judges of the earth.
        ¹¹ Serve the LORD with fear,
        And rejoice with trembling.
        ¹² Kiss the Son,^[2] lest He^[3] be angry,
        And you perish in the way,
        When His wrath is kindled but a little.
        Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.

Footnotes

1. 2:9 Following Masoretic Text and Targum; Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate read rule (compare Revelation 2:27).
2. 2:12 Septuagint and Vulgate read Embrace discipline; Targum reads Receive instruction.
3. Septuagint reads the LORD.

Psalm 3

The LORD Helps His Troubled People A Psalm of David when he fled from Absalom his son.
¹ LORD, how they have increased who trouble me!
        Many are they who rise up against me.
        ² Many are they who say of me,
        "There is no help for him in God."Selah
        ³ But You, O LORD, are a shield for me,
        My glory and the One who lifts up my head.
        ⁴ I cried to the LORD with my voice,
        And He heard me from His holy hill.Selah
        ⁵ I lay down and slept;
        I awoke, for the LORD sustained me.
        ⁶ I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people
        Who have set themselves against me all around.
        ⁷ Arise, O LORD;
        Save me, O my God!
        For You have struck all my enemies on the cheekbone;
        You have broken the teeth of the ungodly.
        ⁸ Salvation belongs to the LORD.
        Your blessing is upon Your people.Selah