Psalms 1:5

For this reason ¹  the wicked cannot withstand ²  judgment, ³  nor can sinners join the assembly of the godly. ⁴ 

Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.

Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.

They will be condemned at the time of judgment. Sinners will have no place among the godly.

Without defense in court, unfit company for innocent people.

For this cause there will be no mercy for sinners when they are judged, and the evil-doers will have no place among the upright,

Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;

Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.

For this reason ¹  the wicked cannot withstand ²  judgment, ³  nor can sinners join the assembly of the godly. ⁴ 

¹ tn Or “Therefore.”

² tn Heb “arise in,” but the verb is used metonymically here in the sense of “stand”; “endure,” as in 1 Sam 13:14 and Job 8:15. The negated Hebrew imperfect verbal form is here taken as indicating incapability or lack of potential, though one could understand the verb form as indicating what is typical (“do not withstand”) or what will happen (“will not withstand”).

³ tn Heb “the judgment.” The article indicates a judgment that is definite in the mind of the speaker. In the immediate context this probably does not refer to the “final judgment” described in later biblical revelation, but to a temporal/historical judgment which the author anticipates. Periodically during the OT period, God would come in judgment, removing the wicked from the scene, while preserving a godly remnant (see Gen 6-9; Ps 37; Hab 3).

⁴ tn Heb “and sinners in the assembly (or “circle”) of [the] godly.” The negative particle and verb from the preceding line are assumed by ellipsis here (“will not arise/stand”).

sn The assembly of the godly is insulated from divine judgment (Ps 37:12-17, 28-29).