Psalm 1 - Paraphrased

I’m going to paraphrase some of the Psalms. It was something that Pastor Tim Keller mentioned that he did to help learn how to pray and I thought it was a good idea. Kelly encouraged me to take on the project so here is the first Psalm. I tried to use the literal meaning and a basic knowledge of some of the Hebrew to say what it said with different words.

Psalm 1

1. How happy is the man who journeys not in the advice of the wicked nor stands in the path of sinners, and neither sits in the same haughty chair as the mocker.

2. But his pleasure is in the instruction that Yahweh offers and on this instruction he contemplates deeply through day and night.

3. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields back the fruits of life in the right season and its leaf does not decay. In all that he does, he pushes forward powerfully to success.

4. The wicked are not like this at all, but instead are like the chaff of straw that the wind drives away and scatters.

5. Therefore the wicked will not survive standing in the judgment nor sinners in the coming together of the right doers.

6. For Yahweh knowingly recognizes, sees, and tends to the path of the right doers, but the path of the wicked will be destroyed.

Psalm 1  - in the English Standard Version

1 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;

2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord,

   and on his law he meditates day and night.

3 He is like a tree

   planted by streams of water

that yields its fruit in its season,

   and its leaf does not wither.

In all that he does, he prospers.

4 The wicked are not so,

   but are like chaff that the wind drives away.

5 Therefore the wicked will 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 wicked will perish.