The Path of the Righteous: A Psalm of Blessings and Curses

1. yrva “How to be emulated” • God blesses individuals or groups directly or through an agent (such as a priest) • ashre does not bring about a blessing, but is an observation made about a person who is blessed • ashre is reserved for humans, not plants, animals, or God

2. Psalm1 • (1) How to be emulated is the person • who has notwalked in the advice of the wicked, • norstood in the way of sinners, • norsat in the session of the arrogant scoffers. • (2) But in the instruction or revelation of Yahweh is her delight • In this Torah she meditates day and night • (3) This enviable person is like a tree transplanted by • irrigation canals, • which produces its fruit at its expected time; • its leaves do not wither, • and all-it-puts-forth prospers.

3. (4) Not like this are the wicked • But they are like the chaff which the wind drives away • (5) Thus the wicked have no standing in the place of judgment • nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous • (6) For Yahweh knows/cares for/embraces/elects • the way of the righteous • while the way of the wicked perishes.

4. Structure of Psalm 1 • 1-3 describe the righteous, without calling them righteous • v 1 negative; v 2 positive; v 3 simile with three comparisons with a tree • 4-5 describe the wicked • v 4 simile with one comparison with chaff • v 5 negative • 6 opposite fates of righteous and wicked • righteous dependent; wicked autonomous

5. Structure of Psalm 1 • 1-3 Righteous • 4-5 Wicked • 6a Righteous • 6b Wicked

6. Structure (continued) • 1 Negative description of righteous • 2 Positive description of righteous • 3 Positive simile about righteous • 4 Positive simile about wicked • 5 Negative description of wicked • 6 a Positive fate of righteous • 6b Negative fate of wicked