God Knows! Yair (Translation and Commentary) on the Book of Psalms (4 February, 2015, 15 Shevet, 5775)
Do good, learn the Bible and avoid they who mock the Truth. In return it shall go well for you and the LORD shall make Himself known to you!
Psalm 1. Let God KNOW You! Duration: 5.53 minutes
Alternate Translation (Yair)
PSALMS 1:
1 HAPPY IS THE PERSON THAT DOES NOT GO IN THE COUNSEL OF EVILDOERS, AND IN THE PATHWAY OF SINNERS DOES NOT STAND, AND IN THE SEAT OF THE SCORNFUL DOES NOT SIT.
Keep away from bad company and avoid being caught up in negative influences. Do not take advice from evildoers and from taking notice of their opinions. The Sages said that someone who abstains from sinning is considered as having fulfilled a commandment.
SCORNFUL: Those who mock people who do good or the Bible are to be avoided.
2 BUT RATHER HIS DESIRE IS IN THE LAW OF THE LORD; AND IN HIS LAW HE MEDITATES DAY AND NIGHT.
It is not enough just to do good and avoid sin. God also wants you to study HIS word.
3 AND HE SHALL BE LIKE A TREE PLANTED BY THE DIVISION OF WATERS, WHOSE FRUIT HE WILL GIVE IN ITS SEASON AND HIS LEAF WILL NOT WITHER; AND ALL THAT HE WILL DO SHALL SUCCEED.
Commentary of "Malbim": This tree will prosper and be successful and so too seed that is sewn from it will be like it. Likewise the righteous man will have successful children due to his virtue. His seed will be mighty in the land. A generation of upright persons will be blessed.
4 NOT SO ARE THE EVILDOERS BUT RATHER LIKE CHAFF THAT THE WIND SHALL BLOW AWAY.
5 THEREFORE THE EVILDOERS SHALL NOT BE VINDICATED IN JUDGEMENT, NOR SINNERS IN THE CONGREGATION OF THE RIGHTEOUS.
6 FOR THE LORD KNOWS THE WAY OF THE RIGHTEOUS BUT THE WAY OF THE EVILDOERS SHALL DESTROY THEM.
Here the word translated as "KNOWS" YaoDaya from the root "DAH" meaning (say the Commentators) both know and be joined unto, as in
"NOW THE MAN KNEW HIS WIFE EVE" (Genesis 4:1). God is close to they who do HIS will.