Psalm 2

Common English Bible

Psalm 2

2 Why do the nations rant?
    Why do the peoples rave uselessly?
²The 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!”
⁴The one who rules in heaven laughs;
    my Lord makes fun of them.
⁵But then God speaks to them angrily;
    then he terrifies them with his fury:
⁶        “I hereby appoint my king on Zion,
        my holy mountain!”

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

¹⁰So kings, wise up!
    Be warned, you rulers of the earth!
¹¹Serve the Lord reverently—
    trembling, ¹²kiss 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

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

Psalm 85

Common English Bible

Psalm 85

For the music leader. Of the Korahites. A psalm.

85 Lord, you’ve been kind to your land;
    you’ve changed Jacob’s circumstances for the better.
²You’ve forgiven your people’s wrongdoing;
    you’ve covered all their sins. Selah
³You’ve stopped being furious;
    you’ve turned away from your burning anger.
⁴You, the God who can save us, restore us!
    Stop being angry with us!
⁵Will you be mad at us forever?
    Will you prolong your anger from one generation to the next?
⁶Won’t you bring us back to life again
    so that your people can rejoice in you?
⁷Show us your faithful love, Lord!
    Give us your salvation!

⁸Let me hear what the Lord God says,
    because he speaks peace to his people and to his faithful ones.
    Don’t let them return to foolish ways.
⁹God’s salvation is very close to those who honor him
    so that his glory can live in our land.
¹⁰Faithful love and truth have met;
    righteousness and peace have kissed.
¹¹Truth springs up from the ground;
    righteousness gazes down from heaven.
¹²Yes, the Lord gives what is good,
    and our land yields its produce.
¹³Righteousness walks before God,
    making a road for his steps.