← The Psalm world
Cartoon illustration of a young man sitting at a desk, torn between a glowing angel on one shoulder and a red devil on the other, illustrating Psalm 1's choice between the way of the righteous and the way of the wicked.

Psalm 1

The Way of the Righteous

Wisdom

This psalm shows two paths in life: one that follows God's ways, and one that doesn't. The person who loves God's word is like a healthy tree with deep roots near a river — always growing and never drying up. God watches over those who walk with Him.

  1. 1Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, or set foot on the path of sinners, or sit in the seat of mockers.
  2. 2But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on His law he meditates day and night.
  3. 3He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever he does prospers.
  4. 4The wicked are not like this; they are like chaff that the wind blows away.
  5. 5Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
  6. 6For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

What it means

Spending time reading and thinking about God's Word every day makes us strong — like a tree with deep roots that never dries up. The choices we make, even small ones, shape the path our life takes.

A little prayer

Lord, help me to love Your Word and think about it every day. Keep me on the right path — the one that leads to life. Let me be like a strong tree, rooted in You. Amen.

Memory verse

“But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on His law he meditates day and night.”

Psalm 1:2 (BSB)

It is the first thing the whole book of Psalms says, and it sets up everything that follows: there are two ways to live, and one of them leads somewhere good.

Talk about it

Questions with no single right answer — for a family table or a Sunday-school circle.

  1. The psalm compares a person to a tree planted by water. What does a tree need every day that it cannot get for itself?
  2. It says the happy person 'delights' in God's law — enjoys it, not just obeys it. What is something you obey because you have to, and something you do because you love it?
  3. Chaff is the dry husk that blows off the grain. Why do you think the psalm picks something so light to describe a life without God?
  4. Who are the people who help you choose well? What makes their advice good?

Try this

Plant a paper tree

Draw a big tree on paper with roots reaching down to a blue river. On each root, write one thing that keeps you close to God — praying, listening to a Bible story, kindness, telling the truth. On the leaves, write the good things that grow out of it. Stick it somewhere you will see it this week.

You will need: Paper, coloured pens, and something blue for the water.

From the blog

What Does Spiritual Growth Mean? →

Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible (BSB)