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 tumultuously assembled? And do 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.

Station themselves do kings of the earth, And princes have been united together, Against Jehovah, 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 from us Their thick bands.'

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 doth laugh, The Lord doth mock 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 doth He speak unto them in His anger, And in His wrath He doth trouble them:

6 [Yahweh says], “I have installed my king on Zion, my sacred hill [in Jerusalem].”

'And I — I have anointed My King, Upon 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: Jehovah said unto me, 'My Son Thou [art], I to-day have brought thee 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 — thy inheritance, And thy possession — the ends of earth.

9 You will defeat them completely [MET]; you will [destroy them like people] smash a clay pot with an iron rod [SIM].’”

Thou dost rule them with a sceptre of iron, As a vessel of a potter Thou dost crush them.'

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 ye Jehovah 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, lest He be angry, And ye lose the way, When His anger burneth but a little, O the happiness of all trusting in Him!