Psalms 1:3 (DRB)

Passage

And he shall be like a tree which is planted near the running waters, which shall bring forth its fruit, in due season. And his leaf shall not fall off: and all whatsoever he shall do shall prosper.

Nearby Context

Psalms 1:1 Blessed is the man who hath not walked in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stood in the way of sinners, nor sat in the chair of pestilence:

Psalms 1:2 But his will is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he shall meditate day and night.

Psalms 1:3 And he shall be like a tree which is planted near the running waters, which shall bring forth its fruit, in due season. And his leaf shall not fall off: and all whatsoever he shall do shall prosper.

Psalms 1:4 Not so the wicked, not so: but like the dust, which the wind driveth from the face of the earth.

Psalms 1:5 Therefore the wicked shall not rise again in judgment: nor sinners in the council of the just.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "shall", "like", "tree", "planted", "near", "running", and "waters". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "shall" and "like", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 2's "But his will is in the law..." into verse 4's "Not so the wicked not so but...", so "shall" and "like" belong inside that flow. In Psalms context, the local focus is worship, trust, the LORD's kingship, and covenant mercy.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "shall" and "like" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.