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Psalm 2
Holman Christian Standard Bible

Psalm 2

Coronation of the Son

1 Why(A) do the nations rebel[a](B)
and the peoples plot in vain?(C)
2 The kings of the earth take their stand,(D)
and the rulers conspire together
against the Lord and His Anointed One:[b](E)
3 “Let us tear off their chains
and free ourselves from their restraints.”[c](F)

4 The One enthroned[d] in heaven laughs;
the Lord ridicules them.(G)
5 Then He speaks to them in His anger
and terrifies them in His wrath:(H)
6 “I have consecrated My King[e]
on Zion, My holy mountain.”(I)

7 I will declare the Lord’s decree:
He said to Me, “You are My Son;[f]
today I have become Your[g] Father.(J)
8 Ask of Me,
and I will make the nations Your[h] inheritance
and the ends of the earth Your[i] possession.(K)
9 You will break[j] them with a rod of iron;
You[k] will shatter them like pottery.”[l](L)

10 So now, kings, be wise;
receive instruction, you judges of the earth.
11 Serve the Lord with reverential awe
and rejoice with trembling.(M)
12 Pay homage to[m] the Son or He[n] will be angry
and you will perish in your rebellion,[o](N)
for His[p] anger may ignite at any moment.(O)
All those who take refuge in Him[q] are happy.(P)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 2:1 Or conspire, or rage
  2. Psalm 2:2 Or anointed one
  3. Psalm 2:3 Lit and throw their ropes from us
  4. Psalm 2:4 Lit who sits
  5. Psalm 2:6 Or king
  6. Psalm 2:7 Or me, “You are My son
  7. Psalm 2:7 Or your
  8. Psalm 2:8 Or your
  9. Psalm 2:8 Or your
  10. Psalm 2:9 LXX, Syr, Tg read shepherd
  11. Psalm 2:9 Or you
  12. Psalm 2:9 Lit a potter’s vessel
  13. Psalm 2:12 Lit Kiss
  14. Psalm 2:12 Or son, otherwise he
  15. Psalm 2:12 Lit perish way
  16. Psalm 2:12 Or his
  17. Psalm 2:12 Or him
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Psalm 2
New American Bible (Revised Edition)

Psalm 2[a]

A Psalm for a Royal Coronation

1 Why do the nations protest
    and the peoples conspire in vain?(A)
2 Kings on earth rise up
    and princes plot together
    against the Lord and against his anointed one:[b](B)
3 “Let us break their shackles
    and cast off their chains from us!”(C)
4 The one enthroned in heaven laughs;
    the Lord derides them,(D)
5 Then he speaks to them in his anger,
    in his wrath he terrifies them:
6 “I myself have installed my king
    on Zion, my holy mountain.”
7 I will proclaim the decree of the Lord,
    he said to me, “You are my son;
    today I have begotten you.(E)
8 Ask it of me,
    and I will give you the nations as your inheritance,
    and, as your possession, the ends of the earth.
9 With an iron rod you will shepherd them,
    like a potter’s vessel you will shatter them.”(F)
10 And now, kings, give heed;
    take warning, judges on earth.
11 Serve the Lord with fear;
    exult with trembling,
Accept correction
    lest he become angry and you perish along the way
    when his anger suddenly blazes up.(G)
Blessed are all who take refuge in him!

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 2 A royal Psalm. To rebellious kings (Ps 2:1–3) God responds vigorously (Ps 2:4–6). A speaker proclaims the divine decree (in the legal adoption language of the day), making the Israelite king the earthly representative of God (Ps 2:7–9) and warning kings to obey (Ps 2:10–11). The Psalm has a messianic meaning for the Church; the New Testament understands it of Christ (Acts 4:25–27; 13:33; Hb 1:5).
  2. 2:2 Anointed: in Hebrew mashiah, “anointed”; in Greek christos, whence English Messiah and Christ. In Israel kings (Jgs 9:8; 1 Sm 9:16; 16:12–13) and high priests (Lv 8:12; Nm 3:3) received the power of their office through anointing.
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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
King James Version

2 Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?

2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against his anointed, saying,

3 Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.

4 He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.

5 Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.

6 Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.

7 I will declare the decree: the Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.

8 Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.

9 Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.

10 Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth.

11 Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling.

12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.

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Psalm 2
International Standard Version

The Nations and God’s Anointed

2 Why are the nations in an uproar,
    and their people involved in a vain plot?
2 As the kings of the earth take their stand
    and the rulers conspire together against the Lord and his anointed one, they say,[a]
3 “Let us tear off their shackles from us,[b]
    and cast off their chains.”

4 He who sits in the heavens laughs;
    the Lord scoffs at them.
5 In his anger he rebukes them,
    and in his wrath he terrifies them:
6 “I have set my king on Zion,
    my holy mountain.”

The Anointed King Speaks

7 Let me announce the decree of the Lord
    that he told me:

“You are my son,
    today I have become your father.
8 Ask of me, and I will give you
    the nations as your inheritance,
        the ends of the earth as your possession.
9 You will break them with an iron rod,
    you will shatter them like pottery.”

10 Therefore, kings, act wisely!
    Earthly rulers, be warned!
11 Serve the Lord with fear,
    and rejoice with trembling.
12 Kiss[c] the son before he becomes[d] angry,
    and you die where you stand.[e]
Indeed, his wrath can flare up quickly.

How blessed are those who take refuge in him.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 2:2 The Heb. lacks say
  2. Psalm 2:3 The Heb. lacks from us
  3. Psalm 2:12 Or Worship
  4. Psalm 2:12 Or son lest he become
  5. Psalm 2:12 Lit. you perish in the way
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Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.

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