Psalm 2:1–4
The Reign of the Lord’s Anointed.
1 Why are athe 1nations in an uproar
And the peoples bdevising a vain thing?
2 The akings of the earth take their stand
And the rulers take counsel together
bAgainst the Lord and against His 1cAnointed, saying,
3 “Let us atear their fetters apart
And cast away their cords from us!”
4 He who 1sits in the heavens alaughs,
The Lord bscoffs at them.
Psalm 2:1–4 — The New International Version (NIV)
1 Why do the nations conspire
and the peoples plot in vain?
2 The kings of the earth rise up
and the rulers band together
against the Lord and against his anointed, saying,
3 “Let us break their chains
and throw off their shackles.”
4 The One enthroned in heaven laughs;
the Lord scoffs at them.
Psalm 2:1–4 — English Standard Version (ESV)
1 Why do the nations rage
and the peoples plot in vain?
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 burst their bonds apart
and cast away their cords from us.”
4 He who sits in the heavens laughs;
the Lord holds them in derision.
Psalm 2:1–4 — King James Version (KJV 1900)
1 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.
Psalm 2:1–4 — New Living Translation (NLT)
1 Why are the nations so angry?
Why do they waste their time with futile plans?
2 The kings of the earth prepare for battle;
the rulers plot together
against the Lord
and against his anointed one.
3 “Let us break their chains,” they cry,
“and free ourselves from slavery to God.”
4 But the one who rules in heaven laughs.
The Lord scoffs at them.
Psalm 2:1–4 — The New King James Version (NKJV)
1 Why do the nations rage,
And the people plot 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 bonds in pieces
And cast away Their cords from us.”
4 He who sits in the heavens shall laugh;
The Lord shall hold them in derision.
Psalm 2:1–4 — New Century Version (NCV)
1 Why are the nations so angry?
Why are the people making useless plans?
2 The kings of the earth prepare to fight,
and their leaders make plans together
against the Lord
and his appointed one.
3 They say, “Let’s break the chains that hold us back
and throw off the ropes that tie us down.”
4 But the one who sits in heaven laughs;
the Lord makes fun of them.
Psalm 2:1–4 — American Standard Version (ASV)
1 Why do the nations rage,
And the peoples meditate a vain thing?
2 The kings of the earth set themselves,
And the rulers take counsel together,
Against Jehovah, and against his anointed, saying,
3 Let us break their bonds asunder,
And cast away their cords from us.
4 He that sitteth in the heavens will laugh:
The Lord will have them in derision.
Psalm 2:1–4 — 1890 Darby Bible (DARBY)
1 Why are the nations in tumultuous agitation, and why do the peoples meditate a vain thing? 2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the princes plot together, against Jehovah and against his anointed: 3 Let us break their bonds asunder, and cast away their cords from us! 4 He that dwelleth in the heavens shall laugh, the Lord shall have them in derision.
Psalm 2:1–4 — GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)
1 Why do the nations gather together?
Why do their people devise useless plots?
2 Kings take their stands.
Rulers make plans together
against the Lord and against his Messiahby saying,
3 “Let’s break apart their chains
and shake off their ropes.”
4 The one enthroned in heaven laughs.
The Lord makes fun of them.
Psalm 2:1–4 — The Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
1 Why do the nations rebel
and the peoples plot in vain?
2 The kings of the earth take their stand,
and the rulers conspire together
against the Lord and His Anointed One:
3 “Let us tear off their chains
and free ourselves from their restraints.”
4 The One enthroned in heaven laughs;
the Lord ridicules them.
Psalm 2:1–4 — The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
1 Why do the nations conspire,
and the peoples plot in vain?
2 The kings of the earth set themselves,
and the rulers take counsel together,
against the Lord and his anointed, saying,
3 “Let us burst their bonds asunder,
and cast their cords from us.”
4 He who sits in the heavens laughs;
the Lord has them in derision.
Psalm 2:1–4 — The Lexham English Bible (LEB)
1 Why are nations in tumult,
and countries plotting in vain?
2 The kings of the earth establish themselves,
and the rulers conspire together
against Yahweh and his anointed:
3 “Let us tear off their bonds,
and cast their cords from us!”
4 He who sits enthroned in the heavens laughs.
The Lord derides them.
Psalm 2:1–4 — New International Reader’s Version (1998) (NIrV)
1 Why do the nations plan evil together?
Why do they make useless plans?
2 The kings of the earth take their stand against the Lord.
The rulers of the earth gather together against his anointed king.
3 “Let us break free from their chains,” they say.
“Let us throw off their ropes.”
4 The One who sits on his throne in heaven laughs.
The Lord makes fun of those rulers and their plans.