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Psalm 2

God’s Promise to His Anointed

Why do the nations conspire
    and the peoples plot in vain?(A)
The kings of the earth set themselves,
    and the rulers take counsel together,
    against the Lord and his anointed, saying,(B)
“Let us burst their bonds apart
    and cast their cords from us.”

He who sits in the heavens laughs;
    the Lord has them in derision.(C)
Then he will speak to them in his wrath
    and terrify them in his fury, saying,(D)
“I have set my king on Zion, my holy hill.”(E)

I will tell of the decree of the Lord:
He said to me, “You are my son;
    today I have begotten you.(F)
Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage
    and the ends of the earth your possession.(G)
You shall break them with a rod of iron
    and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.”(H)

10 Now therefore, O kings, be wise;
    be warned, O rulers of the earth.
11 Serve the Lord with fear;
with trembling(I) 12     kiss his feet,[a]
or he will be angry, and you will perish in the way,
    for his wrath is quickly kindled.

Happy are all who take refuge in him.(J)

Footnotes

  1. 2.12 Cn: Meaning of Heb of 2.11b and 12a is uncertain

Psalm 2

Why are the nations so angry?
    Why do they waste their time with futile plans?
The kings of the earth prepare for battle;
    the rulers plot together
against the Lord
    and against his anointed one.
“Let us break their chains,” they cry,
    “and free ourselves from slavery to God.”

But the one who rules in heaven laughs.
    The Lord scoffs at them.
Then in anger he rebukes them,
    terrifying them with his fierce fury.
For the Lord declares, “I have placed my chosen king on the throne
    in Jerusalem,[a] on my holy mountain.”

The king proclaims the Lord’s decree:
“The Lord said to me, ‘You are my son.[b]
    Today I have become your Father.[c]
Only ask, and I will give you the nations as your inheritance,
    the whole earth as your possession.
You will break[d] them with an iron rod
    and smash them like clay pots.’”

10 Now then, you kings, act wisely!
    Be warned, you rulers of the earth!
11 Serve the Lord with reverent fear,
    and rejoice with trembling.
12 Submit to God’s royal son,[e] or he will become angry,
    and you will be destroyed in the midst of all your activities—
for his anger flares up in an instant.
    But what joy for all who take refuge in him!

Footnotes

  1. 2:6 Hebrew on Zion.
  2. 2:7a Or Son; also in 2:12.
  3. 2:7b Or Today I reveal you as my son.
  4. 2:9 Greek version reads rule. Compare Rev 2:27.
  5. 2:12 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain.