¹ How blessed is the one who does not follow the advice of the wicked,

or stand in the pathway with sinners,

or sit in the assembly of scoffers.

² Instead he finds pleasure in obeying the Lord’s commands;

he meditates on his commands day and night.

³ He is like a tree planted by flowing streams;

it yields its fruit at the proper time,

and its leaves never fall off.

He succeeds in everything he attempts.

⁴ Not so with the wicked!

Instead they are like wind-driven chaff.

⁵ For this reason the wicked cannot withstand judgment,

nor can sinners join the assembly of the godly.

⁶ Certainly the Lord guards the way of the godly,

but the way of the wicked ends in destruction.

² Why do the nations rebel?

Why are the countries devising plots that will fail?

² The kings of the earth form a united front;

the rulers collaborate

against the Lord and his anointed king.

³ They say, “Let’s tear off the shackles they’ve put on us.

Let’s free ourselves from their ropes.”

⁴ The one enthroned in heaven laughs in disgust;

the Lord taunts them.

⁵ Then he angrily speaks to them

and terrifies them in his rage, saying,

⁶ “I myself have installed my king

on Zion, my holy hill.”

⁷ The king says, “I will announce the Lord’s decree. He said to me:

‘You are my son. This very day I have become your father.

⁸ Ask me,

and I will give you the nations as your inheritance,

the ends of the earth as your personal property.

⁹ You will break them with an iron scepter;

you will smash them like a potter’s jar.’”

¹⁰ So now, you kings, do what is wise;

you rulers of the earth, submit to correction.

¹¹ Serve the Lord in fear.

Repent in terror.

¹² Give sincere homage.

Otherwise he will be angry,

and you will die because of your behavior,

when his anger quickly ignites.

How blessed are all who take shelter in him!

¹⁴⁷ Praise the Lord,

for it is good to sing praises to our God.

Yes, praise is pleasant and appropriate.

² The Lord rebuilds Jerusalem

and gathers the exiles of Israel.

³ He heals the brokenhearted

and bandages their wounds.

⁴ He counts the number of the stars;

he names all of them.

⁵ Our Lord is great and has awesome power;

there is no limit to his wisdom.

⁶ The Lord lifts up the oppressed,

but knocks the wicked to the ground.

⁷ Offer to the Lord a song of thanks.

Sing praises to our God to the accompaniment of a harp.

⁸ He covers the sky with clouds,

provides the earth with rain,

and causes grass to grow on the hillsides.

⁹ He gives food to the animals

and to the young ravens when they chirp.

¹⁰ He is not enamored with the strength of a horse,

nor is he impressed by the warrior’s strong legs.

¹¹ The Lord takes delight in his faithful followers

and in those who wait for his loyal love.

¹² Extol the Lord, O Jerusalem.

Praise your God, O Zion.

¹³ For he makes the bars of your gates strong.

He blesses your children within you.

¹⁴ He brings peace to your territory.

He abundantly provides for you the best grain.

¹⁵ He sends his command through the earth;

swiftly his order reaches its destination.

¹⁶ He sends the snow that is white like wool;

he spreads the frost that is white like ashes.

¹⁷ He throws his hailstones like crumbs.

Who can withstand the cold wind he sends?

¹⁸ He then orders it all to melt;

he breathes on it, and the water flows.

¹⁹ He proclaims his word to Jacob,

his statutes and regulations to Israel.

²⁰ He has not done so with any other nation;

they are not aware of his regulations.

Praise the Lord!