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Why do the nations plan evil together?
    Why do they make useless plans?
The kings of the earth rise up against the Lord.
    The rulers of the earth join together against his anointed king.
“Let us break free from their chains,” they say.
    “Let us throw off their ropes.”

The God who sits on his throne in heaven laughs.
    The Lord makes fun of those rulers and their plans.
When he is angry, he warns them.
    When his anger blazes out, he terrifies them.
He says to them,
    “I have placed my king on my holy mountain of Zion.”

I will announce what the Lord has promised.

He said to me, “You are my son.
    Today I have become your father.
Ask me, and I will give the nations to you.
    All nations on earth will belong to you.
You will break them with an iron scepter.
    You will smash them to pieces like clay pots.”

10 Kings, be wise!
    Rulers of the earth, be warned!
11 Serve the Lord and have respect for him.
    Celebrate his rule with trembling.
12 Obey the son completely, or he will be angry.
    Your way of life will lead to your death.
His anger can blaze out at any moment.
    Blessed are all those who go to him for safety.

The Messiah’s Reign

Why are nations in tumult,
and countries plotting[a] in vain?[b]
The kings of the earth establish themselves,
and the rulers conspire[c] together
against Yahweh and his anointed:
“Let us tear off their bonds,
and cast their cords from us!”
He who sits enthroned in the heavens laughs.
The Lord derides them.
Then he speaks to them in his wrath,
and in his fury he terrifies them:
“But as for me, I have set my king
on Zion, my holy mountain.”
I will tell the decree;
Yahweh said to me:
“You are my son;
today I have begotten you.
Ask from me and I will make the nations your heritage,
and your possession the ends of the earth.
You will break them with an iron rod.
Like a potter’s vessel you will shatter them.”
10 So then, O kings, be wise.
Be warned, O rulers of the earth.
11 Serve Yahweh with fear,
and rejoice with trembling.
12 Kiss the Son
lest he be angry and you perish on the way,
for his anger burns quickly.
Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 2:1 Or “muttering”
  2. Psalm 2:1 Or “an empty thing”
  3. Psalm 2:2 Or “make themselves firm”