The Two Ways
Psalms 1
This opening psalm contrasts the blessed man, who delights in the law of the Lord and is like a tree planted by flowing water, with the ungodly, who are like chaff scattered by the wind and will not stand in the judgment.
About these editions
The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.
Thomson 1808Septuagint
Brenton 1851Septuagint
Greek · BrentonSeptuagint
KJV 1769Masoretic
JPS 1917Masoretic
1
ThomsonHAPPY the man, who hath not walked by the counsel of the wicked; nor stood in the way of sinners; nor sat in the seat of the scornful.
BrentonBlessed is the man who has not walked in the counsel of the ungodly, and has not stood in the way of sinners, and has not sat in the seat of evil men.
GreekΜΑΚΑΡΙΟΣ ἀνὴρ, ὃς οὐκ ἐπορεύθη ἐν βουλῇ ἀσεβῶν, καὶ ἐν ὁδῷ ἁμαρτωλῶν· οὐκ ἔστη, καὶ ἐπὶ καθέδρᾳ λοιμῶν οὐκ ἐκάθισεν.
KJVBlessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
JPSHAPPY IS the man that hath not walked in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stood in the way of sinners, nor sat in the seat of the scornful.
2
ThomsonHis delight will be in the law of the Lord only. And on His law he will meditate day and night.
BrentonBut his pleasure is in the law of the Lord; and in his law will he meditate day and night.
GreekʼΑλλʼ ἢ ἐν τῷ νόμῳ Κυρίου τὸ θέλημα αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐν τῷ νόμῳ αὐτοῦ μελετήσει ἡμέρας καὶ νυκτός.
KJVBut his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
JPSBut his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in His law doth he meditate day and night.
3
ThomsonAnd he will be like the tree planted by the streams of water, which will yield its fruit in due season, and its leaf shall not fall untimely. In all that he doth he shall be prospered.
BrentonAnd he shall be as a tree planted by the brooks of waters, which shall yield its fruit in its season, and its leaf shall not fall off; and whatsoever he shall do shall be prospered.
GreekΚαὶ ἔσται ὡς τὸ ξύλον τὸ πεφυτευμένον παρὰ τὰς διεξόδους τῶν ὑδάτων, ὃ τὸν καρπὸν αὐτοῦ δώσει ἐν καιρῷ αὐτοῦ· καὶ τὸ φύλλον αὐτοῦ οὐκ ἀποῤῥυήσεται, καὶ πάντα ὅσα ἂν ποιῇ κατευοδωθήσεται.
KJVAnd he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
JPSAnd he shall be like a tree planted by streams of water, that bringeth forth its fruit in its season, and whose leaf doth not wither; and in whatsoever he doeth he shall prosper.
4
ThomsonNot so the wicked; not so. They are like the chaff, which the wind driveth from the face of the earth.
BrentonNot so the ungodly;—not so: but rather as the chaff which the wind scatters away from the face of the earth.
GreekΟὐχ οὕτως οἱ ἀσεβεῖς, οὐχ οὕτως, ἀλλʼ ἢ ὡς ὁ χνοῦς ὃν ἐκρίπτει ὁ ἄνεμος ἀπὸ προσώπου τῆς γῆς.
KJVThe ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.
JPSNot so the wicked; but they are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.
5
ThomsonTherefore the wicked shall not stand in judgment, nor sinners in the counsel of the righteous.
BrentonTherefore the ungodly shall not rise in judgment, nor sinners in the counsel of the just.
GreekΔιὰ τοῦτο οὐκ ἀναστήσονται οἱ ἀσεβεῖς ἐν κρίσει, οὐδὲ ἁμαρτωλοὶ ἐν βουλῇ δικαίων.
KJVTherefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
JPSTherefore the wicked shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
6
ThomsonFor the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: and the way of the ungodly shall perish.
BrentonFor the Lord knows the way of the righteous; but the way of the ungodly shall perish.
GreekὍτι γινώσκει Κύριος ὁδὸν δικαίων, καὶ ὁδὸς ἀσεβῶν ἀπολεῖται.
KJVFor the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.
JPSFor the LORD regardeth the way of the righteous; but the way of the wicked shall perish.