--- title: "Psalms 1 - Study King James Bible with clarkes commentary" description: "Read Psalms 1 with clarkes commentary commentary. 1 Blessed 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. 2 But hi" image: "/_app/immutable/assets/missing.C7wGMEZ6.jpg" url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/study/clarkes-commentary/psalms/1" --- [ Read](/kjv/psalms/1)[ Commentary](/study/psalms/1)[ Interlinear](/interlinear/psalms/1) Audio 1 Blessed *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.* 2 But his delight *is* in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 3 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.* 4 The ungodly *are* not so: but *are* like the chaff which the wind driveth away. 5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. 6 For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish. [Job 42](/study/job/42) [Psalms 2](/study/psalms/2) ## Commentary To verse 1 Verse [Psalms 1:1](/kjv/psalms/1/1). ***Blessed*****is*****the man*** — This Psalm has no *title*, and has been generally considered, but without especial reason, as a *preface* or *introduction* to the whole book. The word אשרי *ashrey*, which we translate *blessed*, is properly in the *plural* form, *blessednesses*; or may be considered as an *exclamation* produced by contemplating the state of the man who has taken God for his portion; *O the blessedness of the man*! And the word האיש *haish*, is emphatic: *THAT man*; that *one* among a *thousand* who lives for the accomplishment of the end for which God created him. 1. God made man for happiness. 2. Every man feels a desire to be happy. 3. All human beings abhor misery. 4. Happiness is the grand object of pursuit among all men. 5. But so perverted is the human heart, that it seeks happiness where it cannot be found; and in things which are naturally and morally unfit to communicate it. 6. The true way of obtaining it is here laid down. ***That walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly*** — There is a double CLIMAX in this verse, which it will be proper to note:- There are here *three* characters, each *exceeding* the other in sinfulness. 1. The UNGODLY רשעים *reshaim* from רשע *rasha*, to be *unjust*; rendering to none his due; withholding from God, society, and himself, what belongs to each. *Ungodly*- he who has not God in him; who is without God in the world. 2. SINNERS, חטאים *chattaim*, from חטא *chata*, "to miss the mark," "to pass over the prohibited limits," "to transgress." This man not only does *no* *good*, but he *does evil*. The former was *without God*, but not *desperately wicked*. The latter adds *outward transgression* to the *sinfulness* of his heart. 3. SCORNFUL, לצים *letsim*, from לצה *latsah*, "to mock, deride." He who has no religion; lives in the open breach of God's laws, and turns *revelation*, the *immortality* *of the soul*, and the existence of an *invisible world*, into ridicule. He is at least a *deist*, and endeavours to *dissolve*, as much as he can, the *bonds* of moral obligation in civil society. *As* the *sinner* exceeds the *ungodly*, so the *scornful* exceeds *both*. The *second climax* is found in the words, 1. *Walk*; 2. *Stand*; 3. *Sit*: which mark *three different degrees* of evil in the *conduct* of those persons. Observe, 1. The *ungodly* man - one uninfluenced by God. 2. The *sinner*- he who adds to *ungodliness, transgression*. 3. The *scornful*- the deist, atheist, c., who make a mock of every thing sacred. The UNGODLY man *walks*, the SINNER *stands*, and the SCORNFUL man *sits down* in the way of iniquity. Mark certain circumstances of their differing characters and conduct. 1. The *ungodly man* has his *counsel* 2. The *sinner* has his *way*; and, 3. The *scorner* has his *seat*. The *ungodly man* is unconcerned about religion; he is neither zealous for his own salvation, nor for that of others: and he *counsels* and *advises* those with whom he converses to adopt his plan, and not trouble themselves about praying, reading, repenting, c., c. there is no need for such things live an honest life, make no fuss about religion, and you will fare well enough at last. Now, "blessed is the man who walks not in this man's counsel" who does not come into his measures, nor act according to his plan. The *sinner* has his particular *way* of transgressing; one is a *drunkard*, another *dishonest*, another *unclean*. Few are given to every species of vice. There are many *covetous men* who abhor *drunkenness*; many *drunkards* who abhor *covetousness*; and so of others. Each has his *easily besetting sin*; therefore, says the prophet, *let the wicked forsake HIS WAY*. Now, *blessed is he who* *stands not in such a man's WAY*. The *scorner* has brought, in reference to himself, all religion and moral feeling to an end. He has *sat down*-is utterly confirmed in impiety, and makes a mock at sin. His conscience is seared; and he is a believer in all unbelief. Now, *blessed is the man who sits* *not down in his SEAT*. See the *correspondent relations* in this account. 1. He who *walks* according to the *counsel* of the *ungodly* will soon, 2. *Stand* to look on the *way* of *sinners*; and thus, being off his guard, he will soon be a partaker in their evil deeds. 3. He who has abandoned himself to transgression will, in all probability, soon become hardened by the deceitfulness of sin; and *sit down* with the *scorner*, and endeavour to turn religion into ridicule. The last correspondency we find is: - 1. The *seat* answers to the *sitting* of the *scornful*. 2. The *way* answers to the *standing* of the *sinner*; and 3, the *counsel* answers to the *walking* of the *ungodly*. The great lesson to be learned from the whole is, sin is *progressive*; one evil propensity or act leads to another. He who acts by *bad counsel* may soon do *evil deeds*; and he who abandons himself to *evil doings* may end his life in *total apostasy* from God. "When lust has conceived, it brings forth sin; and when sin is finished, it brings forth death." Solomon the son of David, adds a profitable advice to those words of his father: "Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil *men*; avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away;" [Proverbs 4:14-15](/kjv/proverbs/4/14-15). As the *blessedness* of the man is great who avoids the ways and the workers of iniquity, so his *wretchedness* is great who acts on the *contrary*: to him we must reverse the words of David: "Cursed is the man who walketh in the counsel of the ungodly; who standeth in the way of sinners; and who sitteth in the seat of the scornful." 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