Click on player below to hear a sample portion of this Psalm MP3:

The Psalm singing on this MP3 (digital download) covers Psalm 1:1-6, as sung to the tune St. Peter from the 1650 Scottish Metrical Psalter.

1    That man hath perfect blessedness,

          who walketh not astray

      In counsel of ungodly men,

          nor stands in sinners' way,

     Nor sitteth in the scorner's chair:

2          But placeth his delight

     Upon God's law, and meditates

          on his law day and night.

3    He shall be like a tree that grows

          near planted by a river,

     Which in his season yields his fruit,

          and his leaf fadeth never:

     And all he doth shall prosper well

4        The wicked are not so;

     But like they are unto the chaff,

          which wind drives to and fro.

5    In judgment therefore shall not stand

          such as ungodly are;

      Nor in th' assembly of the just

          shall wicked men appear.

6    For why? the way of godly men

          unto the Lord is known:

     Whereas the way of wicked men

          shall quite be overthrown.

John Brown of Haddington's notes on Psalm 1 follow:

 Perhaps this psalm was added by Ezra, or whoever else was the collector of the others into one book. We have represented to us in it, (1.) The character of the godly; how holy they are, abstaining from every temptation to, or appearance of evil; and with pleasure meditating on, and endeavouring to fulfil the whole law of God, ver. 1-2; and how happy, planted in the nearest fellowship with Jesus, the River of Life, they prosper in their lawful attempts: They never fall from their grace or profession; and they shall stand with approbation at the judgment-seat of God, ver. 3. (2.) The sinfulness and misery of the wicked: How different from, and contrary to the godly in their inclinations, companions, exercises, and ends! How light and unsubstantial, as chaff, and ready to be hurled by the storms of infinite wrath, into the depths of hell, as cast and condemned in the righteous judgment of God! ver. 4-5. (3.) The great reason of the happiness of saints, and of the misery of sinners: The Lord loveth the righteous, and observes and approves of their inclinations and behaviour; but, as an enemy, he brings destructive vengeance upon the wicked, ver. 6.

While I sing these important lines, let my soul lift up her eyes to that great pattern of perfection, Jesus, the man of God's right hand, who was holy, harmless, undefiled, and separate from sinners; and who fulfilled all righteousness, magnified the law, and made it honourable for men ­ for me. United to his person, clothed with his righteousness, and all inflamed and animated with his redeeming love shed abroad in my heart, let me examine myself as in his sight; let me walk in him as my way, and follow him as my pattern and guide: Let me with solemn awe look to, and prepare for his last, his eternal judgment!

From: THE PSALMS OF DAVID IN METRE (The Scottish Metrical Psalter of 1650) by the Westminster Assembly, Covenanted Church of Scotland General Assembly and Francis Rouse (1646-1650), With Notes Exhibiting the Connection, Explaining the Sense, and for Directing and Animating the Devotion On Each Psalm by John Brown Of Haddington (from the 1844 edition of this Psalter published by Robert Carter, New York).

This Psalm MP3 digital download comes from the album Scottish Metrical Psalms, Volume 3 available on CD or as an album MP3 digital download.