A Psalm a day … keeps the devil away … or something like that. For the next few months, I am going to try to work my way through the Psalms, 1 – 150, by posting one a day whenever possible. With the help of Biblegateway.com, I will try to post the translation which best resonates with me. I will sometimes share comments or sometimes not. Please also free to post your thoughts … here we go … A Psalm A Day (APAD) …


Psalm 1 (NLT) (author unknown)

1 Oh, the joys of those who do not
follow the advice of the wicked,
or stand around with sinners,
or join in with mockers.
2 But they delight in the law of the Lord,
meditating on it day and night.
3 They are like trees planted along the riverbank,
bearing fruit each season.
Their leaves never wither,
and they prosper in all they do.

4 But not the wicked!
They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind.
5 They will be condemned at the time of judgment.
Sinners will have no place among the godly.
6 For the Lord watches over the path of the godly,
but the path of the wicked leads to destruction.

I take great encouragement from verse 3. While I do not think it means “prosper” in the sense of this world, it is saying that ultimately, if we’re following God by seeking His will, the things we do will bear fruit and prosper … prosper for God, not for man. That is what we must care about. In a similar fashion, verses 4 and 5 are not saying that those who do not follow God will not do well in this world but rather that they won’t stand at the time of judgment. Of course, if we’re doing what God calls us to do, there will be as few as possible in the condemned camp at the time of judgment.


Here’s Psalm 1 from The Message as well … just because it made me smile.

1How well God must like you— you don't hang out at Sin Saloon, you don't slink along Dead-End Road,
you don't go to Smart-Mouth College.

2-3 Instead you thrill to God's Word,
you chew on Scripture day and night.
You're a tree replanted in Eden,
bearing fresh fruit every month,
Never dropping a leaf,
always in blossom.

4-5 You're not at all like the wicked,
who are mere windblown dust—
Without defense in court,
unfit company for innocent people.

6 God charts the road you take.
The road they take is Skid Row.