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Psalm 1:5 Updated American Standard Version (UASV)
⁵Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;

Therefore. (עַל־כֵּן ʿǎl-·kēn) Because they are thus worthless.

The wicked. Wicked: (רָשָׁע rasha) is the unrighteous who are evil, being guilty of willfully and purposely violating the standards of God. In the Old Testament it refers to the one who refuses to acknowledge or obey God. In the book of Proverbs explicitly, it refers to the foolish one who ignores or refuses to follow the divine teachings of God. It is a state or condition of evil that focuses on the violating of God’s laws or standards. – Prov. 3:33; 18:3.

Wickedness: (רֶשַׁע resha; Gr. ponēria) A quality, state or condition that does not conform to God’s standard of moral excellence is wicked, bad, evil, or worthless. – Deut. 9:4-5; 25:2; Pro. 11:5; 13:6; Isa 9:17; Eze 5:6; 18:20, 27; 33:12, 19; Zech. 5:8; Matt. 23:25; 22:18; Mark 7:22; Lu 11:39; Ac 3:26; Rom. 1:29; 1 Cor. 5:8.

Will not stand. This indicates more deliberation, a character more fixed and decided. The idea is, that they will not be found among those who are acquitted by the Judge and approved by him. The idea seems to be derived from the act of standing up to be tried, or to receive a sentence.

In the judgment. The Chaldee Paraphrase renders this, “in the great day”—understanding it of the day of judgment. The Septuagint and Vulgate render it, “the wicked shall not rise—ἀναστήσονται—resurgent—in judgment.” Most of the Jewish interpreters, following the Chaldee Paraphrase, understand this as referring to the last judgment. Rosenmüller, in loc. The truth stated, however, seems to be more general than that, though that is probably included. The meaning is, that they would not share the lot of the righteous: in all places, and at all times, where character is determined, and where the Divine estimate of human character is manifested, it would be found that they could not stand the trial, or abide the result, so as to have a place with the righteous. Their true character would in all such cases, be shown, and they would be treated like the chaff that is driven away. This would be true alike in those situations of trial in the present life when character is determined and at the last judgment when the sentence will be pronounced, which will determine the final doom of mankind.

Nor sinners. Sinner: (חָטָא chata ἁμαρτωλός hamartōlos) In the Scriptures, “sinners” is generally used in a more specific way, that is, referring to those willfully living in sin, practicing sin, or have a reputation of sinning. – Matt. 9:10; Mark 2:15; Luke 5:30; 7:37-39; John 9:16; Rom. 3:7; Gal. 2:15; 1 Tim. 1:15; Heb. 7:26; Jam. 4:8; 1 Pet 4:18; Jude 1:15.

In the congregation of the righteous. Be reckoned or regarded as belonging to the righteous. That is, in all the places where the righteous, as such, are assembled, they will have no place: where they assemble to worship God; where they meet as his friends; where they unitedly participate in his favor; when, in the last day, they shall be gathered together to receive their reward, and when they shall be assembled together in heaven. The sinner has no place in the congregations of the people of God.

By Albert Barnes and Edward D. Andrews