Psalm 2

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.