Type / Mood: Wisdom Psalm. Sets the tone for the Psalter by contrasting the way of the righteous with the way of the wicked. Theme: meditation on God’s law leads to life; wickedness leads to ruin.
Verse 1
Beatus vir, qui non abiit in consilio impiorum, et in via peccatorum non stetit, et in cathedra pestilentiae non sedit.
Blessed [is] the man who did not go in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the way of sinners, nor sit in the seat of pestilence.
Notes: • abeō, abīre, abiī, abitus (irreg.) = go away • impius, -a, -um = impious, wicked • peccātor, -ōris (m.) = sinner • cathedra, -ae (f.) = seat • pestilentia, -ae (f.) = pestilence, corruption
Verse 2
Sed in lege Domini voluntas eius, et in lege eius meditabitur die ac nocte.
But in the law of the Lord [is] his will, and in his law he will meditate day and night.
Notes: • meditor, -ārī, -ātus sum (dep.) = ponder, meditate • lēx, legis (f.) = law • voluntās, -ātis (f.) = will, desire
Verse 3
Et erit tamquam lignum, quod plantatum est secus decursus aquarum, quod fructum suum dabit in tempore suo.
And he will be like a tree planted beside streams of water, which will give its fruit in its season.
Notes: • plantō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus (1st) = plant • decursus, -ūs (m.) = running, flow • frūctus, -ūs (m.) = fruit • tempus, temporis (n.) = time, season
Verse 4
Et folium eius non defluet, et omnia quaecumque faciet prosperabuntur.
And its leaf will not wither, and all things whatever he does will prosper.
Notes: • defluō, -ere, -xī, -xus (3rd) = flow down, wither • prosperor, -ārī, -ātus sum (dep.) = be prosperous • folium, -ī (n.) = leaf
Verse 5
Non sic impii, non sic; sed tamquam pulvis, quem proicit ventus a facie terrae.
Not so the wicked, not so; but like dust which the wind drives away from the face of the earth.
Notes: • prōiciō, -ere, -iēcī, -iectus (3rd) = throw forth, drive away • pulvis, pulveris (m.) = dust
Verse 6
Ideo non resurgent impii in iudicio, neque peccatores in concilio iustorum.
Therefore the wicked will not rise in judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the just.
Notes: • resurgō, -ere, -rēxī, -rēctus (3rd) = rise again • iūdicium, -ī (n.) = judgment • concilium, -ī (n.) = council, assembly • iustus, -a, -um = just, righteous
Verse 7
Quoniam novit Dominus viam iustorum; et iter impiorum peribit.
For the Lord knows the way of the just; but the way of the wicked will perish.
Notes: • pereō, -īre, -iī, -itus (irreg.) = perish • iter, itineris (n.) = way, path