Psalm 2-4

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?
²The 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.”

⁴He who ^(E)sits in the heavens ^(F)laughs;
    the Lord holds them in derision.
⁵Then 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.”

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

¹⁰Now 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.

Save Me, O My God

A Psalm of David, ^(X)when he fled from Absalom his son.

3 O Lord, ^(Y)how many are my foes!
Many are ^(Z)rising against me;
²many are saying of my soul,
^(AA)“There is no salvation for him in God.” Selah^[c]

³But you, O Lord, are ^(AB)a shield ^(AC)about me,
my glory, and ^(AD)the lifter of my head.
⁴I ^(AE)cried aloud to the Lord,
and he ^(AF)answered me from his ^(AG)holy hill. Selah

⁵I ^(AH)lay down and slept;
I woke again, for the Lord sustained me.
⁶I ^(AI)will not be afraid of many thousands of people
who have ^(AJ)set themselves against me all around.

⁷^(AK)Arise, O Lord!
Save me, O my God!
For you ^(AL)strike all my enemies on the cheek;
you ^(AM)break the teeth of the wicked.

⁸^(AN)Salvation belongs to the Lord;
your blessing be on your people! Selah

Answer Me When I Call

To the ^(AO)choirmaster: with ^(AP)stringed instruments. A Psalm of David.

4 Answer me when I call, O God of my ^(AQ)righteousness!
You have ^(AR)given me relief when I was in distress.
Be gracious to me and hear my prayer!

²O men,^[d] how long shall my honor be turned into shame?
How long will you love vain words and seek after ^(AS)lies? Selah
³But know that the Lord has ^(AT)set apart ^(AU)the godly for himself;
the Lord hears when I call to him.

⁴^(AV)Be angry,^[e] and do not sin;
^(AW)ponder in your own hearts ^(AX)on your beds, and be silent. Selah
⁵Offer ^(AY)right sacrifices,
and put your ^(AZ)trust in the Lord.

⁶There are many who say, “Who will show us some good?
^(BA)Lift up ^(BB)the light of your face upon us, O Lord!”
⁷You have put ^(BC)more joy in my heart
than they have when their grain and wine abound.

⁸In peace I will both ^(BD)lie down and sleep;
for you alone, O Lord, make me ^(BE)dwell in safety.

Footnotes

Psalm 2:1 Or nations noisily assemble
Psalm 2:9 Revocalization yields (compare Septuagint) You shall rule
Psalm 3:2 The meaning of the Hebrew word Selah, used frequently in the Psalms, is uncertain. It may be a musical or liturgical direction
Psalm 4:2 Or O men of rank
Psalm 4:4 Or Be agitated