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Psalm 2[a]

A Psalm for a Royal Coronation

Why do the nations protest
    and the peoples conspire in vain?(A)
Kings on earth rise up
    and princes plot together
    against the Lord and against his anointed one:[b](B)
“Let us break their shackles
    and cast off their chains from us!”(C)

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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.

The one enthroned in heaven laughs;
    the Lord derides them,(A)
Then he speaks to them in his anger,
    in his wrath he terrifies them:
“I myself have installed my king
    on Zion, my holy mountain.”

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I will proclaim the decree of the Lord,
    he said to me, “You are my son;
    today I have begotten you.(A)
Ask it of me,
    and I will give you the nations as your inheritance,
    and, as your possession, the ends of the earth.
With an iron rod you will shepherd them,
    like a potter’s vessel you will shatter them.”(B)

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