Psalm 2

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.

5 He rebukes them in his anger

and terrifies them in his wrath, saying,

6 “I have installed my king

on Zion, my holy mountain.”

7 I will proclaim the Lord’s decree:

He said to me, “You are my son;

today I have become your father.

8 Ask me,

and I will make the nations your inheritance,

the ends of the earth your possession.

9 You will break them with a rod of iron;

you will dash them to pieces like pottery.”

10 Therefore, you kings, be wise;

be warned, you rulers of the earth.

11 Serve the Lord with fear

and celebrate his rule with trembling.

12 Kiss his son, or he will be angry

and your way will lead to your destruction,

for his wrath can flare up in a moment.

Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

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.

5 Then he will speak to them in his wrath,

and terrify them in his fury, saying,

6 “As for me, I have set my King

on Zion, my holy hill.”

7 I will tell of the decree:

The Lord said to me, “You are my Son;

today I have begotten you.

8 Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage,

and the ends of the earth your possession.

9 You shall break them with a rod of iron

and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.”

10 Now therefore, O kings, be wise;

be warned, O rulers of the earth.

11 Serve the Lord with fear,

and rejoice with trembling.

12 Kiss the Son,

lest he be angry, and you perish in the way,

for his wrath is quickly kindled.

Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

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.

5 Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath,

And vex them in his sore displeasure.

6 Yet have I set my king

Upon my holy hill of Zion.

7 I will declare the decree:

The Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my Son;

This day have I begotten thee.

8 Ask of me,

And I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance,

And the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.

9 Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron;

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

10 Be wise now therefore, O ye kings:

Be instructed, ye judges of the earth.

11 Serve the Lord with fear,

And rejoice with trembling.

12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry,

And ye perish from the way,

When his wrath is kindled but a little.

Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.

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.

5 Then in anger he rebukes them,

terrifying them with his fierce fury.

6 For the Lord declares, “I have placed my chosen king on the throne

in Jerusalem, on my holy mountain.”

7 The king proclaims the Lord’s decree:

“The Lord said to me, ‘You are my son.

Today I have become your Father.

8 Only ask, and I will give you the nations as your inheritance,

the whole earth as your possession.

9 You will break them with an iron rod

and smash them like clay pots.’ ”

10 Now then, you kings, act wisely!

Be warned, you rulers of the earth!

11 Serve the Lord with reverent fear,

and rejoice with trembling.

12 Submit to God’s royal son, or he will become angry,

and you will be destroyed in the midst of all your activities—

for his anger flares up in an instant.

But what joy for all who take refuge in him!

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.

5 Then He shall speak to them in His wrath,

And distress them in His deep displeasure:

6 “Yet I have set My King

On My holy hill of Zion.”

7 “I will declare the decree:

The Lord has said to Me,

‘You are My Son,

Today I have begotten You.

8 Ask of Me, and I will give You

The nations for Your inheritance,

And the ends of the earth for Your possession.

9 You shall break them with a rod of iron;

You shall dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel.’ ”

10 Now therefore, be wise, O kings;

Be instructed, you judges of the earth.

11 Serve the Lord with fear,

And rejoice with trembling.

12 Kiss the Son, lest He be angry,

And you perish in the way,

When His wrath is kindled but a little.

Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.

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.

5 Then the Lord warns them

and frightens them with his anger.

6 He says, “I have appointed my own king

to rule in Jerusalem on my holy mountain, Zion.”

7 Now I will tell you what the Lord has declared:

He said to me, “You are my son.

Today I have become your father.

8 If you ask me, I will give you the nations;

all the people on earth will be yours.

9 You will rule over them with an iron rod.

You will break them into pieces like pottery.”

10 So, kings, be wise;

rulers, learn this lesson.

11 Obey the Lord with great fear.

Be happy, but tremble.

12 Show that you are loyal to his son,

or you will be destroyed by his anger,

because he can quickly become angry.

But happy are those who trust him for protection.

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.

5 Then will he speak unto them in his wrath,

And vex them in his sore displeasure:

6 Yet I have set my king

Upon my holy hill of Zion.

7 I will tell of the decree:

Jehovah said unto me, Thou art my son;

This day have I begotten thee.

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

And the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.

9 Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron;

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

10 Now therefore be wise, O ye kings:

Be instructed, ye judges of the earth.

11 Serve Jehovah with fear,

And rejoice with trembling.

12 Kiss 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.

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. 5 Then will he speak to them in his anger, and in his fierce displeasure will he terrify them: 6 And I have anointed my king upon Zion, the hill of my holiness.

7 I will declare the decree: Jehovah hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; I this day have begotten thee. 8 Ask of me, and I will give thee nations for an inheritance, and for thy possession the ends of the earth: 9 Thou shalt break them with a sceptre of iron, as a potter’s vessel thou shalt dash them in pieces.

10 And now, O kings, be ye wise, be admonished, ye judges of the earth. 11 Serve Jehovah with fear, and rejoice with trembling. 12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish in the way, though his anger burn but a little. Blessed are all who have their trust in him.

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. 

5 Then he speaks to them in his anger. 

In his burning anger he terrifies them by saying, 

6 “I have installed my own king on Zion, my holy mountain.” 

7 I will announce the Lord’s decree. 

He said to me: 

“You are my Son. 

Today I have become your Father. 

8 Ask me, and I will give you the nations as your inheritance 

and the ends of the earth as your own possession. 

9 You will break them with an iron scepter. 

You will smash them to pieces like pottery.” 

10 Now, you kings, act wisely. 

Be warned, you rulers of the earth! 

11 Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. 

12 Kiss the Son, or he will become angry 

and you will die on your way 

because his anger will burst into flames. 

Blessed is everyone who takes refuge in him. 

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.

5 Then He speaks to them in His anger

and terrifies them in His wrath:

6 “I have consecrated My King

on Zion, My holy mountain.”

7 I will declare the Lord’s decree:

He said to Me, “You are My Son;

today I have become Your Father.

8 Ask of Me,

and I will make the nations Your inheritance

and the ends of the earth Your possession.

9 You will break them with a rod of iron;

You will shatter them like pottery.”

10 So now, kings, be wise;

receive instruction, you judges of the earth.

11 Serve the Lord with reverential awe

and rejoice with trembling.

12 Pay homage to the Son or He will be angry

and you will perish in your rebellion,

for His anger may ignite at any moment.

All those who take refuge in Him are happy.

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 apart

and cast their cords from us.”

4 He who sits in the heavens laughs;

the Lord has them in derision.

5 Then he will speak to them in his wrath

and terrify them in his fury, saying,

6 “I have set my king on Zion, my holy hill.”

7 I will tell of the decree of the Lord:

He said to me, “You are my son;

today I have begotten you.

8 Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage

and the ends of the earth your possession.

9 You shall break them with a rod of iron

and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.”

10 Now therefore, O kings, be wise;

be warned, O rulers of the earth.

11 Serve the Lord with fear;

with trembling 12 kiss his feet,

or he will be angry, and you will perish in the way,

for his wrath is quickly kindled.

Happy are all who take refuge in him.

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.

5 Then he speaks to them in his wrath,

and in his fury he terrifies them:

6 “But as for me, I have set my king

on Zion, my holy mountain.”

7 I will tell the decree;

Yahweh said to me:

“You are my son;

today I have begotten you.

8 Ask from me and I will make the nations your heritage,

and your possession the ends of the earth.

9 You will break them with an iron rod.

Like a potter’s vessel you will shatter them.”

10 So then, O kings, be wise.

Be warned, O rulers of the earth.

11 Serve Yahweh with fear,

and rejoice with trembling.

12 Kiss the Son

lest he be angry and you perish on the way,

for his anger burns quickly.

Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

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.

5 When he is angry, he warns them.

When his anger blazes out, he terrifies them.

6 He says to them,

“I have placed my king on my holy mountain of Zion.”

7 I will announce what the Lord has promised.

He said to me, “You are my son.

Today I have become your father.

8 Ask me, and I will give the nations to you.

All nations on earth will belong to you.

9 You will rule them with an iron rod.

You will break them to pieces like clay pots.”

10 Kings, be wise!

Rulers of the earth, be warned!

11 Serve the Lord and have respect for him.

Serve him with joy and trembling.

12 Obey the son completely, or he will be angry.

Your way of life will lead to your death.

His anger can blaze out at any moment.

Blessed are all those who go to him for safety.