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Psalm 1:5
Therefore the wicked shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
3He will be like a tree planted by the streams of water, that produces its fruit in its season, whose leaf also does not wither. Whatever he does shall prosper.
4The wicked are not so, but are like the chaff which the wind drives away.
5Therefore the wicked shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
6For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked shall perish.
Notice
“Shall not stand” makes judgment a sobering prospect: the wicked have no secure place among the righteous when God judges.
Questions to write on. Each one opens a new entry with this verse already attached.
How does the image of wind-driven chaff shape your reading of “shall not stand”?
Write on thisWhat response does exclusion from “the congregation of the righteous” draw from you today?
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Where else Scripture says this
12 passages readers most often link with this verse, and the thread each one shares with it.
This verse's connections, by chapterThe Bible's strongest chapter linksHover or tap a book to trace it
Psalm 5:5The arrogant will not stand in your sight. You hate all workers of iniquity.Both psalms say that those who do evil will not stand, linking judgment with exclusion from God's presence.
Matthew 25:46These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”Both passages distinguish the fate of the wicked from that of the righteous; Matthew names eternal punishment and eternal life.
Malachi 3:18Then you shall return and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him who serves God and him who doesn’t serve him.Both passages distinguish the righteous from the wicked, with Malachi describing that difference in terms of serving God.
Matthew 25:41Then he will say also to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels;Both passages describe exclusion at judgment, with Matthew naming eternal fire as the destination of those sent away.
Luke 21:36Therefore be watchful all the time, praying that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will happen, and to stand before the Son of Man.”Standing is at stake in both passages: the wicked cannot stand in judgment, while Luke urges prayer to stand before the Son of Man.
Matthew 25:32Before him all the nations will be gathered, and he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.Both passages describe a separation among people at judgment; Matthew pictures it through a shepherd separating sheep from goats.
Matthew 13:49So it will be in the end of the world. The angels will come and separate the wicked from among the righteous,Both passages describe the wicked being excluded from among the righteous; Matthew locates this separation at the end of the world.
Jude 1:15to execute judgment on all, and to convict all the ungodly of all their works of ungodliness which they have done in an ungodly way, and of all the hard things …Both texts speak of judgment involving sinners, with Jude naming their ungodly deeds and hostile words.
Psalm 9:7–8But the LORD reigns forever. He has prepared his throne for judgment.Judgment is certain in both psalms: Psalm 1 describes its consequence for the wicked, while Psalm 9 names the LORD's prepared throne.
Psalm 26:9Don’t gather my soul with sinners, nor my life with bloodthirsty menBoth passages concern being gathered with others: Psalm 1 excludes sinners from the righteous congregation, while Psalm 26 pleads against sharing sinners' fate.
Psalm 9:16The LORD has made himself known. He has executed judgment. The wicked is snared by the work of his own hands. Meditation. Selah.Both psalms connect judgment with the downfall of the wicked; Psalm 9 describes them caught by their own work.
Job 19:29be afraid of the sword, for wrath brings the punishments of the sword, that you may know there is a judgment.”Both passages warn that judgment is real and carries consequences, with Job naming the punishments of the sword.
Where this verse fits
Injustice and anger. death and what comes after. sermon or Bible study notes.
One step
Something small to carry out of this verse
Encouragement
God knows the way of the righteous, as the next verse says. His judgment is a grave warning: the wicked will have no place in their congregation.
Now put it in your words.
Start an entry on Psalm 1:5. Write what it stirs. Psalmlog sets your words beside Scripture and gives you one next step. Your first entry is free, no account needed.
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Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).