Psalms 2

1 Why have the Gentiles been seething, and why have the people been pondering nonsense?

Wherefore have nations assembled in tumult? Or should, peoples, mutter an empty thing?

2 The kings of the earth have stood up, and the leaders have joined together as one, against the Lord and against his Christ:

The kings of earth take their station, and, grave men, have met by appointment together, —against Yahweh, and against his Anointed One [saying]:

3 “Let us shatter their chains and cast their yoke away from us.”

Let us break asunder their bonds, —and cast from us their cords!

4 He who dwells in heaven will ridicule them, and the Lord will mock them.

He that sitteth in the heavens, will laugh, —My Lord, will mock at them:

5 Then will he speak to them in his anger and trouble them with his fury.

Then, will he speak unto them in his anger, and, in his wrath, confound them:

6 Yet I have been appointed king by him over Zion, his holy mountain, preaching his precepts.

Yet, I, have installed my king, —on Zion my holy mountain.

7 The Lord has said to me: You are my son, this day have I begotten you.

Let me tell of a decree, —Yahweh, hath said unto me, My son, thou art, I, to-day, have begotten thee:

8 Ask of me and I will give to you: the Gentiles for your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for your possession.

Ask of me, and let me give nations as thine inheritance, and, as thy possession, the ends of the earth:

9 You will rule them with an iron rod, and you will shatter them like a potter’s vessel.

Thou shalt shepherd them with a sceptre of iron, —as a potter’s vessel, shalt thou dash them in pieces.

10 And now, O kings, understand. Receive instruction, you who judge the earth.

Now, therefore, ye kings, show your prudence, Be admonished, ye judges of earth:

11 Serve the Lord in fear, and exult in him with trembling.

Serve Yahweh with reverence, and exult with trembling:

12 Embrace discipline, lest at any time the Lord might become angry, and you would perish from the way of the just. Though his wrath can flare up in a short time, blessed are all those who trust in him.

Kiss the son, lest he be angry, and ye perish by the way, for soon might be kindled his anger, —How happy are all who seek refuge in him!