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 this turmoil of nations, this futile plotting of peoples,
2 The kings of the nations prepare to revolt; the rulers plot together [to fight] against Yahweh and against his chosen king.
with kings of the earth conspiring, and rulers consulting together, against the Lord and against his anointed,
3 They shout, “We should free ourselves from their control [MET]; we should not let them rule over us any longer!”
to snap their bonds and fling their cords away?
4 But Yahweh, the one who sits [on his throne] in heaven, laughs [at them]; he ridicules those rulers.
He whose throne is in heaven laughs, the Lord mocks 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 wrath, and in his hot anger confounds them.
6 [Yahweh says], “I have installed my king on Zion, my sacred hill [in Jerusalem].”
“This my king is installed by me, on Zion my holy mountain.”
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 will tell of the Lord’s decree. He said to me: “You are my son, this day I became your father.
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.
Only ask, and I make you the heir of the nations, and lord of the world to its utmost bounds.
9 You will defeat them completely [MET]; you will [destroy them like people] smash a clay pot with an iron rod [SIM].’”
You will break them with sceptre of iron, shatter them like pottery.”
10 So then, you kings and other rulers on the earth, act wisely! [Heed what Yahweh is] warning you!
So now, you kings, be wise: be warned, you rulers of earth.
11 Serve Yahweh, fervently revering him; Rejoice [about what he has done for you], but tremble before him!
Serve the Lord in awe, kiss his feet 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].
lest, angry, he hurl you to ruin; for soon will his fury blaze. Happy all who take refuge in him.
