Hebrew Text · Translation · Interlinear · Discourse Structure

The Book of Psalms, Chapter 1תהלים 1

Each verse opens with the running Hebrew, an English translation, and a discourse note (its connective, relation, and role in the argument). Below follows the word-by-word breakdown in six tiers: gloss, case/state or parsing, syntax, semantic force, and a lexical note.

Case Nominative Genitive Dative Accusative Vocative Verb (no case) Indeclinable

Discourse notes head each verse: relation · connective · clause-flow. Indentation marks prominence — flush-left = main line of argument; indented = supporting / subordinate material.

Theme

Psalms 1 (6 verses in the MT) opens: Blessed 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. The middle of the chapter continues: The ungodly not so: but like the chaff which the wind driveth away. It closes: For YHWH knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

Translation & textual notes

The Hebrew base text here follows the Masoretic Text in the Leningrad tradition as represented by the Westminster Leningrad Codex / MorphHB diplomatic stream imported from OSHB; distinctively copyrighted apparatus from BHS or BHQ is not reproduced. Psalms 1 comprises 6 verses in MT order. Movement I (vv. 1-4) — Blessed the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stan. Blessed 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. But his delight in the law of YHWH; and in his law does he meditate day and night. And 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. Movement II (vv. 5-6) — Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in th. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For YHWH knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish. Where English printed Bibles divide verses differently, this annotation follows MT versification throughout.

1

אַ֥שְֽׁרֵי הָאִ֗ישׁ אֲשֶׁ֤ר לֹ֥א הָלַךְ֮ בַּעֲצַ֪ת רְשָׁ֫עִ֥ים וּבְדֶ֣רֶךְ חַ֭טָּאִים לֹ֥א עָמָ֑ד וּבְמוֹשַׁ֥ב לֵ֝צִ֗ים לֹ֣א יָשָֽׁב

Blessed 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.

Qatal — perfective or stative predicationasyndeton
Asyndeton: no clause-level wə. Qatal — perfective or stative predication. Lead predicate is 'went'. Opens the chapter.
Word-by-word analysis· 15 words
אַ֥שְֽׁרֵיhappy are youN c · אֶשֶׁר (H835)Construct chain (genitival)אֶשֶׁר (H835) 'happy are you'.
הָאִ֗ישׁthe manart + N com m sg abs · אִישׁ (H376)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)אִישׁ (H376) 'the man'.
אֲשֶׁ֤רthatrel. שֶׁ · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Particle or relational elementאֲשֶׁר (H834) 'that'.
לֹ֥אnotneg. · לֹא (H3808)Particle or relational elementלֹא (H3808) 'not'.
הָלַךְ֮wentQal perf 3ms · הָלַךְ (H1980)Predicate verb (qatal)→ Perfective: a completed actהָלַךְ (H1980) 'went'.
בַּעֲצַ֪תcounselprep + N com f sg constr · עֵצָה (H6098)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)עֵצָה (H6098) 'counsel'.
רְשָׁ֫עִ֥יםthe wickedAdj · רָשָׁע (H7563)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)רָשָׁע (H7563) 'the wicked'.
וּבְדֶ֣רֶךְand on a journeyconj וְ + prep + N com c sg constr · דֶּרֶךְ (H1870)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)דֶּרֶךְ (H1870) 'and on a journey'.
חַ֭טָּאִיםsinfulAdj · חַטָּא (H2400)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)חַטָּא (H2400) 'sinful'.
לֹ֥אnotneg. · לֹא (H3808)Particle or relational elementלֹא (H3808) 'not'.
עָמָ֑דstandingQal perf 3ms · עָמַד (H5975)Predicate verb (qatal)→ Perfective: a completed actעָמַד (H5975) 'standing'.
וּבְמוֹשַׁ֥בyour dwellingsconj וְ + prep + N com m sg constr · מוֹשָׁב (H4186)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)מוֹשָׁב (H4186) 'your dwellings'.
לֵ֝צִ֗יםthe interpreterAdj · לוּץ (H3887)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)לוּץ (H3887) 'the interpreter'.
לֹ֣אnotneg. · לֹא (H3808)Particle or relational elementלֹא (H3808) 'not'.
יָשָֽׁבdwellingQal perf 3ms · יָשַׁב (H3427)Predicate verb (qatal)→ Perfective: a completed actיָשַׁב (H3427) 'dwelling'.
2

כִּ֤י אִ֥ם בְּתוֹרַ֥ת יְהוָ֗ה חֶ֫פְצ֥וֹ וּֽבְתוֹרָת֥וֹ יֶהְגֶּ֗ה יוֹמָ֥ם וָלָֽיְלָה

But his delight in the law of YHWH; and in his law does he meditate day and night.

Yiqtol — imperfective, modal, or future-orientedwə
kî-clause (causal, recitative, or evidential). Yiqtol — imperfective, modal, or future-oriented. Lead predicate is 'but you shall meditate'.
Word-by-word analysis· 9 words
כִּ֤יforconj וְ · כִּי (H3588)Particle or relational elementכִּי (H3588) 'for'.
אִ֥םifconj וְ · אִם (H518)Particle or relational elementאִם (H518) 'if'.
בְּתוֹרַ֥תthe torahprep + N com f sg constr · תּוֹרָה (H8451)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)תּוֹרָה (H8451) 'the torah'.
יְהוָ֗הYHWHN · יְהוָה (H3068)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)יְהוָה (H3068) 'YHWH'.
חֶ֫פְצ֥וֹacceptableN c · חֵפֶץ (H2656)Construct chain (genitival)חֵפֶץ (H2656) 'acceptable'.
וּֽבְתוֹרָת֥וֹthe torahconj וְ + prep + N com f sg constr + sfx 3ms · תּוֹרָה (H8451)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)תּוֹרָה (H8451) 'the torah'.
יֶהְגֶּ֗הbut you shall meditateQal impf 3ms · הָגָה (H1897)Predicate verb (yiqtol)→ Yiqtol: imperfective or modalהָגָה (H1897) 'but you shall meditate'.
יוֹמָ֥םby dayart · יוֹמָם (H3119)Particle or relational elementיוֹמָם (H3119) 'by day'.
וָלָֽיְלָהand nightconj וְ + N com m sg abs · לַיְלָה (H3915)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)לַיְלָה (H3915) 'and night'.
3

וְֽהָיָ֗ה כְּעֵץ֮ שָׁת֪וּל עַֽל פַּלְגֵ֫י מָ֥יִם אֲשֶׁ֤ר פִּרְי֨וֹ יִתֵּ֬ן בְּעִתּ֗וֹ וְעָלֵ֥הוּ לֹֽא יִבּ֑וֹל וְכֹ֖ל אֲשֶׁר יַעֲשֶׂ֣ה יַצְלִֽיחַ

And 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.

Participle — attendant circumstance or substantival actorwə
wə-chaining from the preceding clause. Participle — attendant circumstance or substantival actor. Lead predicate is 'plant'.
Word-by-word analysis· 17 words
וְֽהָיָ֗הand it shall beconj וְ + Qal q 3ms · הָיָה (H1961)Particle or relational elementהָיָה (H1961) 'and it shall be'.
כְּעֵץ֮like a treeprep + N com m sg abs · עֵץ (H6086)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)עֵץ (H6086) 'like a tree'.
שָׁת֪וּלplantQal ptc ms · שָׁתַל (H8362)Participle→ Participle: attendant circumstance or substantival actorשָׁתַל (H8362) 'plant'.
עַֽלonprep · עַל (H5921)Particle or relational elementעַל (H5921) 'on'.
פַּלְגֵ֫יriverN c · פֶּלֶג (H6388)Construct chain (genitival)פֶּלֶג (H6388) 'river'.
מָ֥יִםwaterN c · מַיִם (H4325)Construct chain (genitival)מַיִם (H4325) 'water'.
אֲשֶׁ֤רthatrel. שֶׁ · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Particle or relational elementאֲשֶׁר (H834) 'that'.
פִּרְי֨וֹits fruitN c · פְּרִי (H6529)Construct chain (genitival)פְּרִי (H6529) 'its fruit'.
יִתֵּ֬ןwould giveQal impf 3ms · נָתַן (H5414)Predicate verb (yiqtol)→ Yiqtol: imperfective or modalנָתַן (H5414) 'would give'.
בְּעִתּ֗וֹin its seasonprep + N com c sg constr + sfx 3ms · עֵת (H6256)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)עֵת (H6256) 'in its season'.
וְעָלֵ֥הוּleaves ofconj וְ + N com m sg constr + sfx 3ms · עָלֶה (H5929)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)עָלֶה (H5929) 'leaves of'.
לֹֽאnotneg. · לֹא (H3808)Particle or relational elementלֹא (H3808) 'not'.
יִבּ֑וֹלand he scornedQal impf 3ms · נָבַל (H5034)Predicate verb (yiqtol)→ Yiqtol: imperfective or modalנָבַל (H5034) 'and he scorned'.
וְכֹ֖לand allconj וְ + N com m sg abs · כֹּל (H3605)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)כֹּל (H3605) 'and all'.
אֲשֶׁרthatrel. שֶׁ · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Particle or relational elementאֲשֶׁר (H834) 'that'.
יַעֲשֶׂ֣הhe shall doQal impf 3ms · עָשָׂה (H6213)Predicate verb (yiqtol)→ Yiqtol: imperfective or modalעָשָׂה (H6213) 'he shall do'.
יַצְלִֽיחַmakes prosperHiphil impf 3ms · צָלַח (H6743)Predicate verb (yiqtol)→ Yiqtol: imperfective or modalצָלַח (H6743) 'makes prosper'.
4

לֹא כֵ֥ן הָרְשָׁעִ֑ים כִּ֥י אִם כַּ֝מֹּ֗ץ אֲֽשֶׁר תִּדְּפֶ֥נּוּ רֽוּחַ

The ungodly not so: but like the chaff which the wind driveth away.

Yiqtol — imperfective, modal, or future-orientedasyndeton
Asyndeton: no clause-level wə. Yiqtol — imperfective, modal, or future-oriented. Lead predicate is 'driven'.
Word-by-word analysis· 9 words
לֹאnotneg. · לֹא (H3808)Particle or relational elementלֹא (H3808) 'not'.
כֵ֥ןsoart · כֵּן (H3651)Particle or relational elementכֵּן (H3651) 'so'.
הָרְשָׁעִ֑יםare wickedart + Adj · רָשָׁע (H7563)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)רָשָׁע (H7563) 'are wicked'.
כִּ֥יforconj וְ · כִּי (H3588)Particle or relational elementכִּי (H3588) 'for'.
אִםifconj וְ · אִם (H518)Particle or relational elementאִם (H518) 'if'.
כַּ֝מֹּ֗ץas / likeprep + art + N com m sg abs · מֹץ (H4671)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)מֹץ (H4671) 'as / like'.
אֲֽשֶׁרthatrel. שֶׁ · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Particle or relational elementאֲשֶׁר (H834) 'that'.
תִּדְּפֶ֥נּוּdrivenQal impf 3fs + sfx 3ms · נָדַף (H5086)Predicate verb (yiqtol)→ Yiqtol: imperfective or modalנָדַף (H5086) 'driven'.
רֽוּחַa spirit ofN c · רוּחַ (H7307)Construct chain (genitival)רוּחַ (H7307) 'a spirit of'.
5

עַל כֵּ֤ן לֹא יָקֻ֣מוּ רְ֭שָׁעִים בַּמִּשְׁפָּ֑ט וְ֝חַטָּאִ֗ים בַּעֲדַ֥ת צַדִּיקִֽים

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

Yiqtol — imperfective, modal, or future-orientedasyndeton
Asyndeton: no clause-level wə. Yiqtol — imperfective, modal, or future-oriented. Lead predicate is 'shall stand'.
Word-by-word analysis· 9 words
עַלonprep · עַל (H5921)Particle or relational elementעַל (H5921) 'on'.
כֵּ֤ןsoadv. · כֵּן (H3651)Particle or relational elementכֵּן (H3651) 'so'.
לֹאnotneg. · לֹא (H3808)Particle or relational elementלֹא (H3808) 'not'.
יָקֻ֣מוּshall standQal impf 3mp · קוּם (H6965)Predicate verb (yiqtol)→ Yiqtol: imperfective or modalקוּם (H6965) 'shall stand'.
רְ֭שָׁעִיםthe wickedAdj · רָשָׁע (H7563)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)רָשָׁע (H7563) 'the wicked'.
בַּמִּשְׁפָּ֑טin judgmentprep + art + N com m sg abs · מִשְׁפָּט (H4941)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)מִשְׁפָּט (H4941) 'in judgment'.
וְ֝חַטָּאִ֗יםand sinnersconj וְ + Adj · חַטָּא (H2400)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)חַטָּא (H2400) 'and sinners'.
בַּעֲדַ֥תin the company ofprep + N com f sg constr · עֵדָה (H5712)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)עֵדָה (H5712) 'in the company of'.
צַדִּיקִֽיםthe righteousAdj · צַדִּיק (H6662)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)צַדִּיק (H6662) 'the righteous'.
6

כִּֽי יוֹדֵ֣עַ יְ֭הוָה דֶּ֣רֶךְ צַדִּיקִ֑ים וְדֶ֖רֶךְ רְשָׁעִ֣ים תֹּאבֵֽד

For YHWH knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

Participle — attendant circumstance or substantival actorwə
kî-clause (causal, recitative, or evidential). Participle — attendant circumstance or substantival actor. Lead predicate is 'shall it be known'. Closes the chapter.
Word-by-word analysis· 8 words
כִּֽיforconj וְ · כִּי (H3588)Particle or relational elementכִּי (H3588) 'for'.
יוֹדֵ֣עַshall it be knownQal ptc ms · יָדַע (H3045)Participle→ Participle: attendant circumstance or substantival actorיָדַע (H3045) 'shall it be known'.
יְ֭הוָהYHWHN · יְהוָה (H3068)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)יְהוָה (H3068) 'YHWH'.
דֶּ֣רֶךְthe way ofN c · דֶּרֶךְ (H1870)Construct chain (genitival)דֶּרֶךְ (H1870) 'the way of'.
צַדִּיקִ֑יםthe righteousAdj · צַדִּיק (H6662)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)צַדִּיק (H6662) 'the righteous'.
וְדֶ֖רֶךְon the wayconj וְ + N com c sg constr · דֶּרֶךְ (H1870)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)דֶּרֶךְ (H1870) 'on the way'.
רְשָׁעִ֣יםthe wickedAdj · רָשָׁע (H7563)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)רָשָׁע (H7563) 'the wicked'.
תֹּאבֵֽדis lostQal impf 3fs · אָבַד (H6)Predicate verb (yiqtol)→ Yiqtol: imperfective or modalאָבַד (H6) 'is lost'.