Psalm 2

English Standard Version

The Reign of the Lord's Anointed

2 ^(A)Why do ^(B)the nations rage^[a]
    and the peoples plot in vain?
²The kings of the earth set themselves,
    and the rulers take counsel together,
    against the Lord and against his ^(C)Anointed, saying,
³“Let us ^(D)burst their bonds apart
    and cast away their cords from us.”

⁴He who ^(E)sits in the heavens ^(F)laughs;
    the Lord holds them in derision.
⁵Then he will speak to them in his ^(G)wrath,
    and terrify them in his fury, saying,
⁶“As for me, I have ^(H)set my King
    on ^(I)Zion, my ^(J)holy hill.”

⁷I will tell of the decree:
The Lord said to me, ^(K)“You are my Son;
    today I have begotten you.
⁸Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage,
    and ^(L)the ends of the earth your possession.
⁹You shall ^(M)break^[b] them with ^(N)a rod of iron
    and dash them in pieces like ^(O)a potter's vessel.”

¹⁰Now therefore, O kings, be wise;
    be warned, O rulers of the earth.
¹¹^(P)Serve the Lord with ^(Q)fear,
    and ^(R)rejoice with ^(S)trembling.
¹²^(T)Kiss ^(U)the Son,
    lest he be angry, and you perish in the way,
    for his ^(V)wrath is quickly kindled.
^(W)Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

Footnotes

Psalm 2:1 Or nations noisily assemble
Psalm 2:9 Revocalization yields (compare Septuagint) You shall rule

Psalm 2

The Message

2 ^1-6Why the big noise, nations?
Why the mean plots, peoples?
Earth-leaders push for position,
Demagogues and delegates meet for summit talks,
The God-deniers, the Messiah-defiers:
“Let’s get free of God!
Cast loose from Messiah!”
Heaven-throned God breaks out laughing.
At first he’s amused at their presumption;
Then he gets good and angry.
Furiously, he shuts them up:
“Don’t you know there’s a King in Zion? A coronation banquet
Is spread for him on the holy summit.”

^7-9Let me tell you what God said next.
He said, “You’re my son,
And today is your birthday.
What do you want? Name it:
Nations as a present? continents as a prize?
You can command them all to dance for you,
Or throw them out with tomorrow’s trash.”

^10-12So, rebel-kings, use your heads;
Upstart-judges, learn your lesson:
Worship God in adoring embrace,
Celebrate in trembling awe. Kiss Messiah!
Your very lives are in danger, you know;
His anger is about to explode,
But if you make a run for God—you won’t regret it!

English Standard Version (ESV)

The Message (MSG)

Psalm 2 English Standard Version

The Reign of the Lord's Anointed

Footnotes

Cross references

Psalm 2 The Message

Psalm 2

English Standard Version

Psalm 2

The Message