Psalms 2
1 (Why do the [leaders of] nations rage [against God]?/It is foolish for the nations to be angry [with God]) [RHQ]. (Why do people plan to rebel [against God] even though it is in vain?/It is useless for people to plan to rebel [against God]) [RHQ]!
Why have nations assembled tumultuously? And peoples meditate vanity?
2 The kings of the nations prepare to revolt; the rulers plot together [to fight] against Yahweh and against his chosen king.
Kings of the earth station themselves, and princes have been united together, against YHWH, and against His Messiah:
3 They shout, “We should free ourselves from their control [MET]; we should not let them rule over us any longer!”
“Let us draw off Their cords, And cast Their thick bands from us.”
4 But Yahweh, the one who sits [on his throne] in heaven, laughs [at them]; he ridicules those rulers.
He who is sitting in the heavens laughs, The Lord mocks at them.
5 Then, because he is angry with them, he rebukes them. He causes them to be terrified when [they realize] that he will furiously punish them.
Then He speaks to them in His anger, and in His wrath He troubles them:
6 [Yahweh says], “I have installed my king on Zion, my sacred hill [in Jerusalem].”
“And I have anointed My King, On Zion—My holy hill.”
7 [And his king says], “I will proclaim what Yahweh has decreed. He said to me, ‘[It is as though] you are my son; today I have declared to everyone that [it is as though] [MET] I am your father.
I declare concerning a statute: YHWH said to me, “You [are] My Son, today I have brought You forth.
8 Ask me to give you the nations, so that they belong to you [to rule over them permanently], and I will give them to you. [Even] the most remote nations will be yours.
Ask of Me and I give nations [as] Your inheritance, And the ends of the earth [for] Your possession.
9 You will defeat them completely [MET]; you will [destroy them like people] smash a clay pot with an iron rod [SIM].’”
You rule them with a scepter of iron, You crush them as a vessel of a potter.”
10 So then, you kings and other rulers on the earth, act wisely! [Heed what Yahweh is] warning you!
And now, O kings, act wisely, Be instructed, O judges of earth,
11 Serve Yahweh, fervently revering him; Rejoice [about what he has done for you], but tremble before him!
Serve YHWH with fear, And rejoice with trembling.
12 Bow down humbly before his son! If you do not do that, Yahweh will be angry, and he will suddenly get rid of you. Do not forget that he can very quickly show that he is very angry! But he is very pleased with all those who request him to protect them [MET].
Kiss the Chosen One [[or Son]], lest He is angry, And you perish [from] the way, When His anger burns but a little, O the blessedness of all trusting in Him!
