I. Godliness Is Superior to Ungodliness

      A. Godliness is Profitable

            1. The godly man is blessed

                 a. The godly man avoids evil

                      (1) He does not walk in ungodly counsel

                      (2) He does not stand in sinful ways

                      (3) He does not sit in the seat of scorners

                 b. The godly man loves God's Word

                     (1) He delights in the Law of the Lord

                     (2) He meditates on the Law of the Lord

            2. The godly man is fruitful like a tree

                 a. The tree is planted by rivers of water

                 b. The tree bears seasonal fruit

                 c. The tree's leaves do not wither

            3. The godly man is prosperous

     B. Ungodliness is Detrimental

            1. The ungodly are not like the godly

            2. The ungodly are unfruitful like chaff

            3. The ungodly will not prosper

                 a. They will not stand acquitted in the judgment

                 b. They will not stand in the congregation of the righteous

II. The Lord Has Determined This to Be True

      A. The Lord knows the way of the righteous

      B. The way of the ungodly shall perish