Psalms 2

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

Why are the nations in turmoil, and why do the peoples make plots that will fail?

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 the earth take their stand together and the rulers conspire together against Yahweh and against his Messiah, saying,

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

“Let us tear off the shackles they put on us and throw off their chains.”

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

He who sits in the heavens will sneer at them; the Lord mocks them.

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

Then he will speak to them in his anger and terrify them in his rage, saying,

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

“I myself have anointed my king on Zion, my holy mountain.”

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

I will announce a decree of Yahweh. He said to me, “You are my son! This day I have become your father.

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 me, and I will give you the nations for your inheritance and the farthermost regions of the earth for your possession.

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

You will break them with an iron rod; like a jar of a potter, you will smash them to pieces.”

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

So now, you kings, be warned; be corrected, you rulers of the earth.

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

Worship Yahweh in fear and rejoice 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 or he will be angry with you, and you will die in the way when his anger burns for just a moment. How blessed are all those who seek refuge in him.