Psalm 2:1–3:8

God’s Chosen King

2^*Why do the nations plan rebellion?

Why do people make their useless plots?

^2*Their kings revolt,

their rulers plot together against the Lord

and against the king he chose.

³“Let us free ourselves from their rule,” they say;

“let us throw off their control.”

⁴From his throne in heaven the Lord laughs

and mocks their feeble plans.

⁵Then he warns them in anger

and terrifies them with his fury.

⁶“On Zion,^a my sacred hill,” he says,

“I have installed my king.”

^7*“I will announce,” says the king, “what the Lord has declared.

He said to me: ‘You are my son;

today I have become your father.

⁸Ask, and I will give you all the nations;

the whole earth will be yours.

^9*You will break them with an iron rod;

you will shatter them in pieces like a clay pot.’ ”

¹⁰Now listen to this warning, you kings;

learn this lesson, you rulers of the world:

¹¹Serve the Lord with fear;

¹²tremble and bow down to him;^b

or else his anger will be quickly aroused,

and you will suddenly die.

Happy are all who go to him for protection.

Morning Prayer for Help^+c

3 I have so many enemies, Lord,

so many who turn against me!

²They talk about me and say,

“God will not help him.”

³But you, O Lord, are always my shield from danger;

you give me victory

and restore my courage.

⁴I call to the Lord for help,

and from his sacred hill^d he answers me.

⁵I lie down and sleep,

and all night long the Lord protects me.

⁶I am not afraid of the thousands of enemies

who surround me on every side.

⁷Come, Lord! Save me, my God!

You punish all my enemies

and leave them powerless to harm me.

⁸Victory comes from the Lord—

may he bless his people.