21 The words “the king says” are supplied in the translation for clarification. The speaker is the Lord’s chosen king.
22 Or “I will relate the decree. The Lord said to me” (in accordance with the Masoretic accentuation).
23 ‘You are my son!’ The Davidic king was viewed as God’s “son” (see 2 Sam 7:14; Ps 89:26–27). The idiom reflects ancient Near Eastern adoption language associated with covenants of grant, by which a lord would reward a faithful subject by elevating him to special status, referred to as “sonship.” Like a son, the faithful subject received an “inheritance,” viewed as an unconditional, eternal gift. Such gifts usually took the form of land and/or an enduring dynasty. See M. Weinfeld, “The Covenant of Grant in the Old Testament and in the Ancient Near East,” 90 (1970): 184–203, for general discussion and some striking extra-biblical parallels.
24 I will give you the nations. The Lord promises the Davidic king universal dominion.
25 The reads “you will shepherd them.” This reading, quoted in the Greek text of the NT in Rev 2:27; 12:5; 19:15, assumes a different vocalization of the consonantal Hebrew text and understands the verb as רָעָה (ra’ah, “to shepherd”) rather than רָעָע (ra’a’, “to break”). But the presence of נָפַץ (nafats, “to smash”) in the next line strongly favors the vocalization.
26 The Hebrew term שֵׁבֶט (shevet) can refer to a “staff” or “rod,” but here it probably refers to the Davidic king’s royal scepter, symbolizing his sovereignty.
27 Like a potter’s jar. Before the Davidic king’s awesome power, the rebellious nations are like fragile pottery.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

I will tell of the decree:

The Lord said to me, “You are my Son;

today I have begotten you.

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

and the ends of the earth your possession.

You shall break them with a rod of iron

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

NIVNew International Version (2011)

I will proclaim the Lord’s decree:

He said to me, “You are my son;

today I have become your father.

Ask me,

and I will make the nations your inheritance,

the ends of the earth your possession.

You will break them with a rod of iron;

you will dash them to pieces like pottery.”

CSBChristian Standard Bible

I will declare the Lord’s decree.

He said to me, “You are my Son;

today I have become your Father.

Ask of me,

and I will make the nations your inheritance

and the ends of the earth your possession.

You will break them with an iron scepter;

you will shatter them like pottery.”

NLTNew Living Translation

The king proclaims the Lord’s decree:

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

Today I have become your Father.

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

the whole earth as your possession.

You will break them with an iron rod

and smash them like clay pots.’ ”

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

I will tell the decree;

Yahweh said to me:

“You are my son;

today I have begotten you.

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

and your possession the ends of the earth.

You will break them with an iron rod.

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

KJV 1900King James Version

I will declare the decree:

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

This day have I begotten thee.

Ask of me,

And I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance,

And the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.

Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron;

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

Public Domain