1 Happy are those

who reject the advice of evil people,

who do not follow the example of sinners

or join those who have no use for God.

2 Instead, they find joy in obeying the Law of the Lord,

and they study it day and night.

3 They are like trees that grow beside a stream,

that bear fruit at the right time,

and whose leaves do not dry up.

They succeed in everything they do.

4 But evil people are not like this at all;

they are like straw that the wind blows away.

5 Sinners will be condemned by God

and kept apart from God's own people.

6 The righteous are guided and protected by the Lord,

but the evil are on the way to their doom.