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The Lord's king rules[a]

Why are nations making plans to turn against the Lord?
    All their plans will fail!
Kings and rulers decide to work together,
    to fight against the Lord
    and the king that he has chosen.
They say, ‘We will not accept their authority over us!
    We will get free from their power!’[b]
The Lord who sits on his throne in heaven laughs at them.
    He says that their plans are useless.
Then he becomes very angry and he frightens them.
    He warns them with strong words and he says,
    ‘I have put my king on his throne in Zion.[c]
    I have put him on my holy mountain.’

I will tell you what the Lord has promised to me, his king.
He said to me, ‘You are my son.
    Yes, today I have become your father![d]
Ask me and see what I will do!
    I will give you all the nations on the earth.
    They will all belong to you.
You will break them with an iron sceptre,
    as if they are clay pots.’

10 So, you kings, think carefully!
    You who rule the nations of the world, learn this lesson:
11 Respect the Lord and serve him.
    Enjoy his rule with fear!
12 Bend down low in front of his son!
    If not, the Lord will be angry.
    He will quickly become very angry.
You will suddenly die!
But as for those who serve the Lord as their king,
    he blesses them and he takes care of them all.

Footnotes

  1. 2:1 This Psalm speaks about the king of Israel that God had chosen. The word used for this king in verse 2 is the same word as Messiah. The Psalm also tells us about Jesus. The prophets said that Jesus would be king of all the nations.
  2. 2:3 See Acts 4:25-26.
  3. 2:6 God put David in Zion as king. Zion was part of Jerusalem. When David died, his son Solomon became king. Their descendants also ruled as kings after that. Jesus was a descendant of King David. He became the king who rules for ever.
  4. 2:7 See Acts 13:33 and Hebrews 1:5; 5:5.

Psalm 2

Why do the nations conspire[a]
    and the peoples plot(A) in vain?
The kings(B) of the earth rise up
    and the rulers band together
    against the Lord and against his anointed,(C) saying,
“Let us break their chains(D)
    and throw off their shackles.”(E)

The One enthroned(F) in heaven laughs;(G)
    the Lord scoffs at them.
He rebukes them in his anger(H)
    and terrifies them in his wrath,(I) saying,
“I have installed my king(J)
    on Zion,(K) my holy mountain.(L)

I will proclaim the Lord’s decree:

He said to me, “You are my son;(M)
    today I have become your father.(N)
Ask me,
    and I will make the nations(O) your inheritance,(P)
    the ends of the earth(Q) your possession.
You will break them with a rod of iron[b];(R)
    you will dash them to pieces(S) like pottery.(T)

10 Therefore, you kings, be wise;(U)
    be warned, you rulers(V) of the earth.
11 Serve the Lord with fear(W)
    and celebrate his rule(X) with trembling.(Y)
12 Kiss his son,(Z) or he will be angry
    and your way will lead to your destruction,
for his wrath(AA) can flare up in a moment.
    Blessed(AB) are all who take refuge(AC) in him.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 2:1 Hebrew; Septuagint rage
  2. Psalm 2:9 Or will rule them with an iron scepter (see Septuagint and Syriac)