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Why do the nations rage,
    and the peoples plot a vain thing?
The kings of the earth take a stand,
    and the rulers take counsel together,
    against Yahweh, and against his Anointed,[a] saying,
“Let’s break their bonds apart,
    and cast their cords from us.”
He who sits in the heavens will laugh.
    The Lord[b] will have them in derision.
Then he will speak to them in his anger,
    and terrify them in his wrath:
“Yet I have set my King on my holy hill of Zion.”
    I will tell of the decree:
Yahweh said to me, “You are my son.
    Today I have become your father.
Ask of me, and I will give the nations for your inheritance,
    the uttermost parts of the earth for your possession.
You shall break them with a rod of iron.
    You shall dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.”
10 Now therefore be wise, you kings.
    Be instructed, you judges of the earth.
11 Serve Yahweh with fear,
    and rejoice with trembling.
12 Give sincere homage to the Son,[c] lest he be angry, and you perish on the way,
    for his wrath will soon be kindled.
    Blessed are all those who take refuge in him.

Footnotes

  1. 2:2 The word “Anointed” is the same as the word for “Messiah” or “Christ”
  2. 2:4 The word translated “Lord” is “Adonai.”
  3. 2:12 or, Kiss the son

The Nations and God’s Anointed

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

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

The Anointed King Speaks

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

“You are my son,
    today I have become your father.
Ask of me, and I will give you
    the nations as your inheritance,
        the ends of the earth as your possession.
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