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Psalm 2
New International Version

Psalm 2

1 Why do the nations conspire[a]
    and the peoples plot(A) in vain?
2 The kings(B) of the earth rise up
    and the rulers band together
    against the Lord and against his anointed,(C) saying,
3 “Let us break their chains(D)
    and throw off their shackles.”(E)

4 The One enthroned(F) in heaven laughs;(G)
    the Lord scoffs at them.
5 He rebukes them in his anger(H)
    and terrifies them in his wrath,(I) saying,
6 “I have installed my king(J)
    on Zion,(K) my holy mountain.(L)”

7 I will proclaim the Lord’s decree:

He said to me, “You are my son;(M)
    today I have become your father.(N)
8 Ask me,
    and I will make the nations(O) your inheritance,(P)
    the ends of the earth(Q) your possession.
9 You will break them with a rod of iron[b];(R)
    you will dash them to pieces(S) like pottery.(T)”

10 Therefore, you kings, be wise;(U)
    be warned, you rulers(V) of the earth.
11 Serve the Lord with fear(W)
    and celebrate his rule(X) with trembling.(Y)
12 Kiss his son,(Z) or he will be angry
    and your way will lead to your destruction,
for his wrath(AA) can flare up in a moment.
    Blessed(AB) are all who take refuge(AC) in him.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 2:1 Hebrew; Septuagint rage
  2. Psalm 2:9 Or will rule them with an iron scepter (see Septuagint and Syriac)
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Psalm 2
English Standard Version

The Reign of the Lord's Anointed

2 (A)Why do (B)the nations rage[a]
    and the peoples plot in vain?
2 The kings of the earth set themselves,
    and the rulers take counsel together,
    against the Lord and against his (C)Anointed, saying,
3 “Let us (D)burst their bonds apart
    and cast away their cords from us.”

4 He who (E)sits in the heavens (F)laughs;
    the Lord holds them in derision.
5 Then he will speak to them in his (G)wrath,
    and terrify them in his fury, saying,
6 “As for me, I have (H)set my King
    on (I)Zion, my (J)holy hill.”

7 I will tell of the decree:
The Lord said to me, (K)“You are my Son;
    today I have begotten you.
8 Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage,
    and (L)the ends of the earth your possession.
9 You shall (M)break[b] them with (N)a rod of iron
    and dash them in pieces like (O)a potter's vessel.”

10 Now therefore, O kings, be wise;
    be warned, O rulers of the earth.
11 (P)Serve the Lord with (Q)fear,
    and (R)rejoice with (S)trembling.
12 (T)Kiss (U)the Son,
    lest he be angry, and you perish in the way,
    for his (V)wrath is quickly kindled.
(W)Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 2:1 Or nations noisily assemble
  2. Psalm 2:9 Revocalization yields (compare Septuagint) You shall rule
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Psalm 2
New American Standard Bible

The Reign of the Lord’s Anointed.

2 Why are (A)the [a]nations restless
And the peoples (B)plotting in vain?
2 The (C)kings of the earth take their stand
And the rulers conspire together
(D)Against the Lord and against His [b](E)Anointed, saying,
3 “Let’s (F)tear their shackles apart
And throw their ropes away from us!”

4 He who [c]sits in the heavens (G)laughs,
The Lord (H)scoffs at them.
5 Then He will speak to them in His (I)anger
And (J)terrify them in His fury, saying,
6 “But as for Me, I have installed (K)My King
Upon Zion, (L)My holy mountain.”

7 “I will announce the [d]decree of the Lord:
He said to Me, ‘You are (M)My Son,
Today I have fathered You.
8 Ask it of Me, and (N)I will certainly give (O)the [e]nations as Your inheritance,
And the (P)ends of the earth as Your possession.
9 You shall [f](Q)break them with a [g]rod of iron,
You shall (R)shatter them like [h]earthenware.’”

10 Now then, you kings, (S)use insight;
Let yourselves be instructed, you [i]judges of the earth.
11 Serve the Lord with [j](T)reverence
And rejoice with (U)trembling.
12 [k]Kiss (V)the Son, that He not be angry and you perish on the way,
For (W)His wrath may be kindled quickly.
How blessed are all who (X)take refuge in Him!

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 2:1 Or Gentiles
  2. Psalm 2:2 Or Messiah
  3. Psalm 2:4 Or is enthroned
  4. Psalm 2:7 Or decree: The Lord said to Me
  5. Psalm 2:8 Or Gentiles
  6. Psalm 2:9 Another reading is rule
  7. Psalm 2:9 Or scepter; or staff
  8. Psalm 2:9 Lit potter’s ware
  9. Psalm 2:10 Or leaders
  10. Psalm 2:11 Or fear
  11. Psalm 2:12 I.e., probably kiss the feet of the Son
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Psalm 2
Common English Bible

Psalm 2

2 Why do the nations rant?
    Why do the peoples rave uselessly?
2 The earth’s rulers take their stand;
    the leaders scheme together
    against the Lord and
    against his anointed one.
3         “Come!” they say.
        “We will tear off their ropes
        and throw off their chains!”
4 The one who rules in heaven laughs;
    my Lord makes fun of them.
5 But then God speaks to them angrily;
    then he terrifies them with his fury:
6         “I hereby appoint my king on Zion,
        my holy mountain!”

7 I will announce the Lord’s decision:
    He said to me, “You are my son,
        today I have become your father.
8 Just ask me,
    and I will make the nations your possession;
    the far corners of the earth will be your property.
9 You will smash them with an iron rod;
    you will shatter them like a pottery jar.”

10 So kings, wise up!
    Be warned, you rulers of the earth!
11 Serve the Lord reverently—
    trembling, 12 kiss his feet[a]
        or else he will become angry,
        and your way will be destroyed
    because his anger ignites in an instant.

But all who take refuge in the Lord are truly happy!

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 2:12 Correction; Heb uncertain; MT rejoice with trembling, kiss the son (but with son in Aram, not Heb)
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Psalm 2
Contemporary English Version

The Lord's Chosen King

1 (A) Why do the nations plot,[a]
and why do their people
    make useless plans?[b]
2 The kings of this earth
    have all joined together
to turn against the Lord
    and his chosen king.
3 They say, “Let's cut the ropes
    and set ourselves free!”

4 In heaven the Lord laughs
as he sits on his throne,
    making fun of the nations.
5 The Lord becomes furious
    and threatens them.
His anger terrifies them
    as he says,
6 “I've put my king on Zion,
    my sacred hill.”

7 (B) I will tell the promise
    that the Lord made to me:
“You are my son, because today
    I have become your father.
8 Ask me for the nations,
and every nation on earth
    will belong to you.
9 (C) You will smash them
    with an iron rod
and shatter them
    like dishes of clay.”

10 Be smart, all you rulers,
    and pay close attention.
11 Serve and honor the Lord;
    be glad and tremble.
12 Show respect to his son
    because if you don't,
the Lord might become furious
    and suddenly destroy you.[c]
But he blesses and protects
    everyone who runs to him.

Footnotes

  1. 2.1 Why … plot: Or “Why are the nations restless?”
  2. 2.1 make useless plans: Or “grumble uselessly.”
  3. 2.11,12 Serve … you: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verses 11,12.
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