Psalm 2:1–3:8

¹Why do the nations rage,

And the peoples meditate a vain thing?

²The kings of the earth set themselves,

And the rulers take counsel together,

Against Jehovah, and against his anointed, saying,

³Let us break their bonds asunder,

And cast away their cords from us.

⁴He that sitteth in the heavens will laugh:

The Lord will have them in derision.

⁵Then will he speak unto them in his wrath,

And vex them in his sore displeasure:

⁶Yet I have set my king

Upon my holy hill of Zion.

⁷I will tell of the decree:

Jehovah said unto me, Thou art my son;

This day have I begotten thee.

⁸Ask of me, and I will give thee the nations for thine inheritance,

And the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.

⁹Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron;

Thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.

¹⁰Now therefore be wise, O ye kings:

Be instructed, ye judges of the earth.

¹¹Serve Jehovah with fear,

And rejoice with trembling.

¹²Kiss the son, lest he be angry, and ye perish in the way,

For his wrath will soon be kindled.

Blessed are all they that take refuge in him.

Psalm 3

A Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son.

¹Jehovah, how are mine adversaries increased!

Many are they that rise up against me.

²Many there are that say of my soul,

There is no help for him in God. Selah

³But thou, O Jehovah, art a shield about me;

My glory and the lifter up of my head.

⁴I cry unto Jehovah with my voice,

And he answereth me out of his holy hill. Selah

⁵I laid me down and slept;

I awaked; for Jehovah sustaineth me.

⁶I will not be afraid of ten thousands of the people

That have set themselves against me round about.

⁷Arise, O Jehovah; save me, O my God:

For thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone;

Thou hast broken the teeth of the wicked.

⁸Salvation belongeth unto Jehovah:

Thy blessing be upon thy people. Selah