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God's Chosen King

(A)Why do the nations plan rebellion?
    Why do people make their useless plots?
Their kings revolt,
    their rulers plot together against the Lord
    and against the king he chose.
“Let us free ourselves from their rule,” they say;
    “let us throw off their control.”

From his throne in heaven the Lord laughs
    and mocks their feeble plans.
Then he warns them in anger
    and terrifies them with his fury.
“On Zion,[a] my sacred hill,” he says,
    “I have installed my king.”

(B)“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.
Ask, and I will give you all the nations;
    the whole earth will be yours.
(C)You will break them with an iron rod;
    you will shatter them in pieces like a clay pot.’”

10 Now listen to this warning, you kings;
    learn this lesson, you rulers of the world:
11 Serve the Lord with fear;
tremble 12     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.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 2:6 The term “Zion” (originally a designation for “David's City,” the Jebusite stronghold captured by King David's forces) was later extended in meaning to refer to the hill on which the Temple stood.
  2. Psalm 2:12 Probable text tremble … him; some other possible texts with trembling kiss his feet and with trembling kiss the Son and tremble and kiss the mighty one; Hebrew unclear.

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)