Psalms 2

1 Why do the heathen rage, And the nations meditate a vain thing?

Why this turmoil of nations, this futile plotting of peoples,

2 Why do the kings of the earth rise up, And the princes combine together, Against Jehovah, and against his anointed king?

with kings of the earth conspiring, and rulers consulting together, against the Lord and against his anointed,

3 “Let us break their bonds asunder; Let us cast away from us their fetters!”

to snap their bonds and fling their cords away?

4 He that sitteth in heaven will laugh; The Lord will have them in derision.

He whose throne is in heaven laughs, the Lord mocks them.

5 Then shall he speak to them in his wrath, And confound them in his hot displeasure.

Then he speaks to them in his wrath, and in his hot anger confounds them.

6 “I myself have anointed my king, Upon Zion, my holy hill!”

“This my king is installed by me, on Zion my holy mountain.”

7 I will declare the decree of Jehovah: He hath said to me, “Thou art my son; This day I have begotten thee.

I will tell of the Lord’s decree. He said to me: “You are my son, this day I became your father.

8 Ask of me, and I will give thee the nations for thine inheritance, And the ends of the earth for thy possession.

Only ask, and I make you the heir of the nations, and lord of the world to its utmost bounds.

9 Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; Thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.”

You will break them with sceptre of iron, shatter them like pottery.”

10 Be wise, therefore, O ye kings! Be admonished, ye rulers of the earth!

So now, you kings, be wise: be warned, you rulers of earth.

11 Be subject to Jehovah with awe, And fear with trembling!

Serve the Lord in awe, kiss his feet with trembling,

12 Kiss the son, lest He be angry, and ye perish in your way; For soon shall his wrath be kindled. Happy are all they who seek refuge in him.

lest, angry, he hurl you to ruin; for soon will his fury blaze. Happy all who take refuge in him.