Psalm 2:1-9

New International Version

Psalm 2

¹Why do the nations conspire^[a]
    and the peoples plot^(A) in vain?
²The 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)

⁴The One enthroned^(F) in heaven laughs;^(G)
    the Lord scoffs at them.
⁵He 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)”

⁷I will proclaim the Lord’s decree:

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

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Footnotes

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

Psalm 146:4-9

New International Version

⁴When their spirit departs, they return to the ground;^(A)
on that very day their plans come to nothing.^(B)
⁵Blessed are those^(C) whose help^(D) is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the Lord their God.

⁶He is the Maker of heaven^(E) and earth,
    the sea, and everything in them—
    he remains faithful^(F) forever.
⁷He upholds^(G) the cause of the oppressed^(H)
    and gives food to the hungry.^(I)
The Lord sets prisoners free,^(J)
⁸    the Lord gives sight^(K) to the blind,^(L)
the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down,^(M)
    the Lord loves the righteous.^(N)
⁹The Lord watches over the foreigner^(O)
    and sustains the fatherless^(P) and the widow,^(Q)
    but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.

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Acts 4:23-31

New International Version

The Believers Pray

²³On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. ²⁴When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God.^(A) “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them.^(B) ²⁵You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David:^(C)

“‘Why do the nations rage
    and the peoples plot in vain?
²⁶The kings of the earth rise up
    and the rulers band together
against the Lord
    and against his anointed one.^[a]’^[b]^(D)

²⁷Indeed Herod^(E) and Pontius Pilate^(F) met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus,^(G) whom you anointed. ²⁸They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen.^(H) ²⁹Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.^(I) ³⁰Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders^(J) through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”^(K)

³¹After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken.^(L) And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit^(M) and spoke the word of God^(N) boldly.^(O)

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Footnotes

Acts 4:26 That is, Messiah or Christ
Acts 4:26 Psalm 2:1,2

John 3:1-8

New International Version

Jesus Teaches Nicodemus

3 Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus^(A) who was a member of the Jewish ruling council.^(B) ²He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi,^(C) we know^(D) that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs^(E) you are doing if God were not with him.”^(F)

³Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.^[a]”^(G)

⁴“How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”

⁵Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.^(H) ⁶Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit^[b] gives birth to spirit.^(I) ⁷You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You^[c] must be born again.’ ⁸The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”^[d]^(J)