Blessed Is the Man

Even before David became king, he was already known as a soul of music, valor and wisdom:

"Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite who is skillful in playing, a mighty man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, a handsome man, and the Lord is with him."

1 Samuel 16:18

This project opened with Psalm 1 — the first song of the journey. Now, after dozens of psalms composed since, we return to the starting point in a new version: a fuller, clearer arrangement. The song is named Blessed Is the Man, the words that open the Book of Psalms.

Psalm 1 opens the book with one clear picture: there is a way of life and blessing, and there is a way of emptiness. King David places at the gate of the book the truly happy person — one who knows what to stay away from and what to hold to.

The opening verse, chosen as the name of the song, is:

"Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked"

Psalms does not begin by asking what a person feels, but where he is connected: whose advice he takes, and with whom he sits. Happiness begins with a choice.