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Psalms 1:4

Made Simple — Modern English Translation

Translated by Verse Made Simple Editorial
KJV ORIGINAL
The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE

The wicked are not like this at all. Instead, they are like chaff that the wind blows away.

⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE

This verse is contrasting wicked people with the righteous - while good people are like strong, fruitful trees, the wicked are like worthless chaff that gets blown away.

📚 Historical Context

In the context of ancient Israel, Psalms 1 serves as an introduction to the entire book of Psalms, contrasting the blessed life of the righteous person who follows God's law with the unstable fate of the wicked. The metaphor of chaff being driven away by the wind draws from common agricultural practices in the ancient Near East, where farmers would thresh grain and the lightweight, useless husks would be blown away, symbolizing God's judgment and the impermanence of ungodly ways. This imagery reflects the broader biblical theme of divine justice, as seen in other Old Testament passages like those in the prophets.

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