THE *BOOK OF
PSALMS.

Psalm 1

1The happiness of the godly. 4The unhappiness of the ungodly.


1BLESSED 1is the 2man thata walketh not 3in the counsel of the 4ungodly, nor standeth in the 5way of 6sinners, nor sitteth in the 7seat of the scornful.

*As such the Lord Christ calls this book, Luke 20:42, and Peter, Acts 1:20.

1 As having the promise of this life and of that to come, 1 Tim. 4:8.

2 That is, person. See Job 12 on verse 10.

a Psalm 26:4; Prov. 1:10, 15; 4:14, 15; 1 Cor. 15:33; Eph. 5:11.

3 That is, does not regulate his life according to their counsel or advice; or, enters not in consultation with them to design evil or mischievous practices. See Job 21:16.

4 Or, godless, unrighteous, impious, dishonest, disquiet ones. See Num. 35 on verse 31.

5 That is, has no communion, or has nothing to do with such manner of living, evil courses, and lewd conversation. See Gen. 6 on verse 12 and below verse 6.

6 Who make their work in sinning, and in whom sin is entirely dominant; so likewise verse 5; Psalm 26:9; 104:35; Eccl. 2:26; 9:2; Isa. 65:20; Mat. 26:45; Rom. 5:8. See also 1 Sam. 15 on verse 18.

7 Or, chair, assembly (as Psalm 107:32), where they are together to exercise their mockery with all that is divine as hardened and reprobate wretches.

2Butb his delight is in the 8law of the LORD; and in his law doth he 9meditate day and 10night.

b Deut. 6:6, etc.; 17:19; Joshua 1:8; Psalm 119:1, etc.

8 Or, doctrine; for, by this word, elsewhere and generally throughout this book, is understood the whole doctrine, contained in the written Word of God, or Holy Scriptures.

9 Hebr. properly, shall meditate or consider or commune, namely, both with heart and mouth; and so in the sequel. This permutation of times or tenses, is very usual with the Hebrews; (as in the former verse the Hebrew is properly) has walked, stood, sat. We use it sometimes in our own vulgar idiom, to say in like manner, an honest man shall not do such a thing; the wicked shall do so and so; a good tree will bring forth her fruit in due season, that is, an honest man does no such thing; he is not used to do so; the wicked on the contrary, he does it and is used to do it, etc.

10 When he awakes in the night; or interrupts his sleep many times for that end. Compare Psalm 16:7; 17:3; 63:6; 77:6; 88:1; 119:55, 62; the meaning is, he does it constantly, in all seasons, and on all occasions.

3And he shall be like a treec planted by the 11rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in 12his season; his 13leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever 14he doeth shall 15prosper.

cJer. 17:8.

11 Hebr. properly, partings, or dividings of waters, that is, streams, arms and rivulets, flowing this way and that way. Compare Psalm 46:4; Prov. 5:16.

12 That is, in due time, in the proper season. So Lev. 26:4; Psalm 104:27; 145:15; Jer. 5:24.

13 Or, foliage. The falling of the leaves presupposes their withering. Therefore some do read here withereth not. Compare Isa. 34:4.

14 The righteous and godly man, who is compared to a tree.

15 Or, prosper, thrive; or, therein he shall be profitable. Compare Gen. 39:2; 2 Chron. 31:21; 32:30 and see Rom. 8:28. Some do refer this to the tree to whom the righteous is compared thus: whatsoever he bringeth forth (Hebr. maketh, or doeth) shall prosper, since the Hebrew word to make is used elsewhere for bringing forth of fruit. See Isa. 5 on verse 4; Isa. 5 on verse 10; Jer. 12 on verse 2; Jer. 17 on verse 8, and compare Mat. 3:8, 10.

4The 16ungodly are not so: but are like thed chaff which the wind driveth away.

16 Namely, as such a tree, as the righteous.

dJob 21:18; Psalm 35:5; Isa. 17:13; 29:5; Hosea 13:3.

5Therefore the ungodly shall not 17stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.

17 But fall and be overthrown, at the time when God begins to execute His judgments against the wicked in this world, but especially when they shall be condemned by the Son of God and sent away to hell; whereas on the contrary the congregation of the righteous shall be enabled to stand before God and enter at last into everlasting glory. See Mat. 25:41, 46, etc.

6For the LORD 18knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

18 That is, cherishes, takes pleasure in, is delighted with, approves of and tenderly cares for. Compare Gen. 18 on verse 19; Deut. 2:7; Psalm 31:7; 101:4; Nahum 1:7; Mat. 7:23; 25:12; 1 Thes. 5:12.