Memorize Scripture

How to memorize Psalm 1

Psalm 1:1–6 is 6 verses. Learned a verse a day, a line at a time (16 lines in all), it takes about 9 days.

The opening psalm of the book, placed as a doorway to the rest. Verses 1–3 describe one kind of person, verses 4–5 the opposite, and verse 6 sums up both. The image at the center is a tree planted by water.

Psalm 1 in 16 lines

Berean Standard Bible (public domain). Learn a verse by adding one line at a time.

1. 1:1
   1. Blessed is the man
   2. who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked,
   3. or set foot on the path of sinners,
   4. or sit in the seat of mockers.
2. 1:2
   1. But his delight is in the Law of the LORD,
   2. and on His law he meditates day and night.
3. 1:3
   1. He is like a tree planted by streams of water,
   2. yielding its fruit in season,
   3. whose leaf does not wither,
   4. and who prospers in all he does.
4. 1:4
   1. Not so the wicked!
   2. For they are like chaff driven off by the wind.
5. 1:5
   1. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
   2. nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
6. 1:6
   1. For the LORD guards the path of the righteous,
   2. but the way of the wicked will perish.

How to memorize it, five minutes a day

1. One phrase at a time. Read the first phrase aloud twice. Cover it and say it. Uncover it and check every word.
2. Add the next phrase only when the first comes easily, then say the two together. Keep joining until the verse is whole.
3. Come back tomorrow and say it before you look. Rate yourself honestly: got it, needed help, or practise again.
4. Space the reviews. Each time you recall it without help, wait longer before the next review: a day, three days, a week, a month.
5. Say the whole passage once a week so the verses stay joined, not just memorized one by one.

King James Version

¹Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. ²But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. ³And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. ⁴The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. ⁵Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. ⁶For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.