Instead ¹  he finds pleasure in obeying the Lord’s commands; ²  he meditates on ³  his commands ⁴  day and night.

biblegateway Psa 1:2

But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night.

Instead, his delight is in the LORD's instruction, and he meditates on it day and night.

Rather, he delights in the teachings of the LORD and reflects on his teachings day and night.

biblegateway Psa 1:2

But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.

but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.

bibleoremus Psa 1:2

but their delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law they meditate day and night.

His delight is in the law of the LORD; it is his meditation day and night.

biblegateway Psa 1:2

But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night.

But his delight [is] in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

biblegateway Psa 1:2

Instead ¹  he finds pleasure in obeying the Lord’s commands; ²  he meditates on ³  his commands ⁴  day and night.

¹ tn Here the Hebrew expression כִּי־אִם (ki-’im, “instead”) introduces a contrast between the sinful behavior depicted in v. 1 and the godly lifestyle described in v. 2.

² tn Heb “his delight [is] in the law of the Lord.” In light of the following line, which focuses on studying the Lord’s law, one might translate, “he finds pleasure in studying the Lord’s commands.” However, even if one translates the line this way, it is important to recognize that mere study and intellectual awareness are not ultimately what bring divine favor. Study of the law is metonymic here for the correct attitudes and behavior that should result from an awareness of and commitment to God’s moral will; thus “obeying” has been used in the translation rather than “studying.”

³ tn The Hebrew imperfect verbal form draws attention to the characteristic behavior described here and lends support to the hyperbolic adverbial phrase “day and night.” The verb הָגָה (hagag) means “to recite quietly; to meditate” and refers metonymically to intense study and reflection.

⁴ tn Or “his law.”