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The NET Bible®

Psalms 1:6

Certainly the Lord guards the way of the godly, but the way of the wicked ends in destruction.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - God Continued...;   Heart;   Wicked (People);   Thompson Chain Reference - Knowledge;   Knowledge, Divine;   Knowledge-Ignorance;   Known, Ways;   Ways;   The Topic Concordance - Knowledge;   Perishing;   Righteousness;   Ungodliness;   Ways;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Righteousness;   Wisdom of God, the;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Psalms, the Book of;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Sin;   Way;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Know, Knowledge;   Righteousness;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Blessedness;   English Versions;   Psalms;   Righteousness;   Sin;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Blessedness;   Foreknowledge;   Justification (2);   Way;   1910 New Catholic Dictionary - parallelism;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Asher;   Bless;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Psalms the book of;   Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types - Perish;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Bible, the;   Death;   Good, Chief;   Know;   Providence;   Text of the Old Testament;   Way;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Atonement;   Berechiah Ii., R.;   Didache;   Eliakim;   God;   Godliness;   Judaism;   Judgment, Divine;  

Devotionals:

- Daily Light on the Daily Path - Devotion for September 16;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous,but the way of the wicked leads to ruin.
Hebrew Names Version
For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the wicked shall perish.
King James Version
For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.
English Standard Version
for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.
New Century Version
This is because the Lord takes care of his people, but the wicked will be destroyed.
Amplified Bible
For the LORD knows and fully approves the way of the righteous, But the way of the wicked shall perish.
New American Standard Bible
For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the wicked will perish.
World English Bible
For Yahweh knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the wicked shall perish.
Geneva Bible (1587)
For the Lorde knoweth the way of the righteous, & the way of the wicked shal perish.
Legacy Standard Bible
For Yahweh knows the way of the righteous,But the way of the wicked will perish.
Berean Standard Bible
For the LORD guards the path of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.
Contemporary English Version
The Lord protects everyone who follows him, but the wicked follow a road that leads to ruin.
Complete Jewish Bible
For Adonai watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked is doomed.
Darby Translation
For Jehovah knoweth the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked shall perish.
Easy-to-Read Version
The Lord shows his people how to live, but the wicked have lost their way.
George Lamsa Translation
For the LORD knows the way of the righteous; but the way of the ungodly shall perish.
Good News Translation
The righteous are guided and protected by the Lord , but the evil are on the way to their doom.
Lexham English Bible
for Yahweh knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.
Literal Translation
For Jehovah is knowing the way of the righteous, and the way of the wicked shall perish.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
For the LORDE aloweth ye waye of the rightuous, but the waye of the vngodly shal perishe.
American Standard Version
For Jehovah knoweth the way of the righteous; But the way of the wicked shall perish.
Bible in Basic English
Because the Lord sees the way of the upright, but the end of the sinner is destruction.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
For the LORD regardeth the way of the righteous; but the way of the wicked shall perish.
King James Version (1611)
For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the vngodly shall perish.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
For God knoweth the way of the righteous: and the way of the vngodly shall perishe.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
For the Lord knows the way of the righteous; but the way of the ungodly shall perish.
English Revised Version
For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the wicked shall perish.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
For the Lord knowith the weie of iust men; and the weie of wickid men schal perische.
Update Bible Version
For Yahweh knows the way of the righteous; But the way of the wicked, shall perish.
Webster's Bible Translation
For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.
New King James Version
For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the ungodly shall perish.
New Living Translation
For the Lord watches over the path of the godly, but the path of the wicked leads to destruction.
New Life Bible
For the Lord knows the way of those who are right with Him. But the way of the sinful will be lost from God forever.
New Revised Standard
for the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
For Yahweh doth acknowledge the way of the righteous; but, the way of the lawless, shall vanish.
Douay-Rheims Bible
For the Lord knoweth the way of the just: and the way of the wicked shall perish.
Revised Standard Version
for the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.
Young's Literal Translation
For Jehovah is knowing the way of the righteous, And the way of the wicked is lost!
THE MESSAGE
God charts the road you take. The road they take is Skid Row.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the wicked will perish.

Contextual Overview

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.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

knoweth: Psalms 37:18-24, Psalms 139:1, Psalms 139:2, Psalms 142:3, Job 23:10, Nahum 1:7, John 10:14, John 10:27, 2 Timothy 2:19

way: Psalms 112:10, Psalms 146:9, Proverbs 14:12, Proverbs 15:9, Matthew 7:13, 2 Peter 2:12

Reciprocal: Genesis 18:19 - For I Genesis 22:12 - now Exodus 2:25 - had respect Exodus 33:12 - I know Deuteronomy 2:7 - he knoweth Job 10:7 - Thou knowest Job 31:6 - know Psalms 1:1 - way Psalms 2:12 - ye perish Psalms 31:7 - known Psalms 145:20 - all the wicked Proverbs 2:8 - keepeth Proverbs 10:29 - but Isaiah 1:28 - the destruction Isaiah 26:7 - most Hosea 13:5 - know Matthew 25:12 - I know Luke 13:27 - I tell Romans 7:15 - allow Romans 8:29 - whom 1 Corinthians 8:3 - is Galatians 4:9 - are known 1 Peter 4:5 - that Revelation 2:2 - know

Cross-References

Genesis 1:5
God called the light "day" and the darkness "night." There was evening, and there was morning, marking the first day.
Genesis 1:6
God said, "Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters and let it separate water from water."
Genesis 1:7
So God made the expanse and separated the water under the expanse from the water above it. It was so.
Genesis 1:8
God called the expanse "sky." There was evening, and there was morning, a second day.
Genesis 1:11
God said, "Let the land produce vegetation: plants yielding seeds according to their kinds, and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds." It was so.
Genesis 1:12
The land produced vegetation—plants yielding seeds according to their kinds, and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. God saw that it was good.
Genesis 1:13
There was evening, and there was morning, a third day.
Genesis 1:14
God said, "Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them be signs to indicate seasons and days and years,
Genesis 1:20
God said, "Let the water swarm with swarms of living creatures and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the sky."
Genesis 1:22
God blessed them and said, "Be fruitful and multiply and fill the water in the seas, and let the birds multiply on the earth."

Gill's Notes on the Bible

For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous,.... The way in which he walks by faith, which is in Jesus Christ; the way in which he goes to the Father, and carries to him his sacrifices of prayer and praise, which meet with acceptance through him; the way in which he seeks for and expects justification, pardon, and salvation, namely, through the blood, righteousness, and sacrifice of Christ: and also it may denote his course, his walk and conversation; for the righteous man is a follower of God, he takes up the cross and follows after Christ: he walks not after the flesh, but after the Spirit, according to the rule of the word, and as becomes the Gospel of Christ: and this way of his in every sense the Lord "knows"; not merely as he is omniscient, for by his omniscience his eyes are upon the ways of all men; he knows the way of the wicked as well as the way of the righteous; but the sense is, that the Lord approves of and is well pleased with his way of faith and holiness; he knows this person, so as to love him and take delight and pleasure in him; his countenance beholds him with a smile; he is well pleased with him in Christ and for his sake, on whose account he has respect to him and to his offerings, to his service and duty, to his ways and works; and hence he is a blessed man, is in a happy situation, and all he does prospers, for he and his ways please the Lord: and hence also it is that neither he nor his way shall perish; the way he is in leads to everlasting life, and he being a follower of the Lord in a way pleasing to him, he shall never perish, but have eternal life;

but the way of the ungodly shall perish; for his way is a wicked way, the way of sinners, Psalms 1:1; it leads to destruction and death, and all that walk in it shall perish; for if is a way the Lord knows not, does not approve of, he abhors it; wherefore the man that continues in it will be unhappy, wretched, and miserable to all eternity. These last words therefore show the reason of the happiness of one sort of men, and the unhappiness of the other; and prove and confirm the same: the Lord knows, approves of, loves, and delights in the one; he does not approve of and delight in the other.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous - This is given as a reason why the wicked would not stand in the judgment with the righteous. The reason is, that the Lord, the great Judge, fully understands the character of those who are his friends, and can discriminate between them and all others, whatever pretences others may make to that character. Only those whom God approves, and loves, as his friends, will be able to stand in the day when the great decision shall be made. No one can impose on him by any mere pretensions to piety; no one can force his way to his favor, or to the rewards of the just, by power; no one can claim this in virtue of rank and station. No one can be admitted to the favor of God, and to the rewards of heaven, whose character is not such that it will bear the scrutiny of the Omniscient eve. Compare the notes at 2 Timothy 2:19. Man may be deceived in judging character, but God is not. When it is said that “the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous,” the word “way” seems to be used to denote the whole of life - the manner of living (Notes, Psalms 1:1), and hence, the whole character. Perhaps there is included also the idea that the Lord knows the result of their manner of life - the issue to which it leads - and that, therefore, he can properly judge the righteous and assign them to that place in the future world, to wit, heaven, to which their actions tend.

But the way of the ungodly shall perish - The way or manner in which the ungodly live shall tend to ruin; their plans, and purposes, and hopes, shall come to nought. Their course, in fact, tends to destruction. None of their plans shall prosper in regard to religion: none of their hopes shall be fulfilled. In this, as in all other respects, they stand in strong contrast with the righteous, alike in this world and the world to come.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Psalms 1:6. The Lord knoweth — יודע yodea, approveth the way, aloweth the way, Coverdale, of the righteous, צדיקים tsaddikim, from צדק tsadak, to give even weight; the men who give to all their due; opposed to רשעים reshaim, Psalms 1:1, they who withhold right from all; see above. Such holy men are under the continual eye of God's providence; he knows the way that they take; approves of their motives, purposes, and works, because they are all wrought through himself. He provides for them in all exigencies, and defends them both in body and soul.

The way of the ungodly shall perish. — Their projects, designs and operations, shall perish; God's curse shall be on all that they have, do, and are. And in the day of judgment they shall be condemned to everlasting fire in the perdition of ungodly men. The wicked shall perish at the presence of the Lord. Reader take warning!

ANALYSIS OF THE FIRST PSALM

The τοκρινομενον in this Psalm is, Who is the happy man? or, What may make a man happy?

I. This question the prophet resolves in the first two verses:

1. Negatively. It is he, 1. "That walks not in the counsel of the ungodly." 2. "That stands not in the way of sinners." 3. "That sits not in the seat of the scornful."

2. Positively. It is he. 1. "Whose delight is in the law of the Lord." 2. "Who doth meditate in the law day and night."

II. This happiness of the good man is illustrated two ways: 1. By a similitude. 2. By comparing him with a wicked man.

1. The similitude he makes choice of is that of a tree; not every tree neither, but that which hath these eminences: 1. It is "planted; " it grows not of itself, neither is wild. 2. "Planted by the rivers of water," it wants not moisture to fructify. 3. It doth fructify; "it brings forth fruit;" it is no barren tree. 4. The fruit it brings is seasonable; "it brings forth fruit in its season." 5. It is always green, winter and summer; "the leaves wither not." Clearly, without any trope, Whatsoever this good man doth, or takes in hand, "it shall prosper."

2. He shows this good man's happiness by comparing him with a wicked man, in whom you shall find all the contrary.

1. In general. Not so. As for the ungodly, it is not so with them: not so in the plantation; in the place; in the seasonable fruit; in the greenness; in the prosperity. So far from being like a tree, that they are like, 1. Chaff, a light and empty thing. 2. Chaff which the wind whiffles up and down. 3. Chaff which the wind scatters or driveth away. 4. And never leaves scattering, till it has driven it from the face of the earth. So the Vulgate, Septuagint, and Arabic.

2. And that no man may think that their punishment shall extend only to this life; in plain terms he threatens to them, 1. Damnation at the great day: "They shall not stand in judgment;" though some refer this clause to this life. When he is judged by men, causa cadet, he shall be condemned. 2. Exclusion from the company of the just: "Sinners shall not stand in the congregation of the righteous."

III. In the close he shows the cause why the godly is happy, the wicked unhappy:

1. Because "the way of the righteous is known to God;" approved by him, and defended.

2. But the way, studies, plots, "counsels of the wicked, shall perish." - DAVID'S HARP STRUNG AND TUNED. See the introduction.


 
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