Study Desk

How happy is the man who does not follow^[a] the advice of the wicked or take^[b] the path of sinners or join a group^[c] of mockers!^(a)

Instead, his delight is in the Lord 's instruction, and he meditates on it day and night.^(b)

He is like a tree planted beside streams of water^[d] that bears its fruit in season^[e](c) and whose leaf does not wither.^(d) Whatever he does prospers.^(e)

The wicked are not like this; instead, they are like chaff that the wind blows away.^(f)

Therefore the wicked will not survive^[f] the judgment,^(g) and sinners will not be in the community of the righteous.

For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous,^(h) but the way of the wicked leads to ruin.⁽ⁱ⁾

Why^(a) do the nations rebel^[a](b) and the peoples plot in vain?^(c)

The kings of the earth take their stand,^(d) and the rulers conspire together against the Lord and His Anointed One:^[b](e)

"Let us tear off their chains and free ourselves from their restraints."^[c](f)

The One enthroned^[d] in heaven laughs; the Lord ridicules them.^(g)

Then He speaks to them in His anger and terrifies them in His wrath:^(h)

"I have consecrated My King^[e] on Zion, My holy mountain."⁽ⁱ⁾

I will declare the Lord 's decree: He said to Me, "You are My Son;^[f] today I have become Your^[g] Father.^(j)

Ask of Me, and I will make the nations Your^[h] inheritance and the ends of the earth Your^[i] possession.^(k)

You will break^[j] them with a rod of iron; You^[k] will shatter them like pottery."^[l](l)

So now, kings, be wise; receive instruction, you judges of the earth.

Serve the Lord with reverential awe and rejoice with trembling.^(m)

Pay homage to^[m] the Son or He^[n] will be angry and you will perish in your rebellion,^[o](n) for His^[p] anger may ignite at any moment.^(o) All those who take refuge in Him^[q] are happy.^(p)

Lord ,^[a][b] why do You stand so far away?^(a) Why do You hide in times of trouble?^(b)

In arrogance the wicked relentlessly pursue the afflicted; let them be caught in the schemes they have devised.^(c)

For the wicked one boasts about his own cravings;^(d) the one who is greedy curses^[c] and despises the Lord .^(e)

In all his scheming, the wicked arrogantly thinks:^[d] "There is no accountability, since God does not exist."^(f)

His ways are always secure;^[e] Your lofty judgments are beyond his sight; he scoffs at all his adversaries.^(g)

He says to himself, "I will never be moved— from generation to generation without calamity."^(h)

Cursing, deceit, and violence fill his mouth; trouble and malice are under his tongue.⁽ⁱ⁾

He waits in ambush near the villages;^(j) he kills the innocent in secret places. His eyes are on the lookout for the helpless;^(k)

he lurks in secret like a lion in a thicket. He lurks in order to seize the afflicted; he seizes the afflicted and drags him in his net.

So he is oppressed and beaten down; the helpless fall because of his strength.^(l)

He says to himself, "God has forgotten; He hides His face and will never see."^(m)

Rise up, Lord God! Lift up Your hand.⁽ⁿ⁾ Do not forget the afflicted.^(o)

Why has the wicked person despised God? He says to himself, "You will not demand an account."^(p)

But You Yourself have seen trouble and grief, observing it in order to take the matter into Your hands.^(q) The helpless entrusts himself to You; You are a helper of the fatherless.^(r)

Break the arm of the wicked and evil person;^(s) call his wickedness into account until nothing remains of it.^[f](t)

The Lord is King forever and ever;^(u) the nations will perish from His land.^(v)

Lord , You have heard the desire of the humble;^[g] You will strengthen their hearts. You will listen carefully,^(w)

doing justice for the fatherless and the oppressed so that men of the earth may terrify them no more.^(x)