The Messiah’s Triumph and Kingdom(A)

Why (B)do the [a]nations [b]rage,
And the people plot a [c]vain thing?
The kings of the earth set themselves,
And the (C)rulers take counsel together,
Against the Lord and against His (D)Anointed,[d] saying,
“Let (E)us break Their bonds in pieces
And cast away Their cords from us.”

He who sits in the heavens (F)shall laugh;
The Lord shall hold them in derision.
Then He shall speak to them in His wrath,
And distress them in His deep displeasure:
“Yet I have [e]set My King
[f]On My holy hill of Zion.”

“I will declare the [g]decree:
The Lord has said to Me,
(G)‘You are My Son,
Today I have begotten You.
Ask of Me, and I will give You
The nations for Your inheritance,
And the ends of the earth for Your possession.
(H)You shall [h]break them with a rod of iron;
You shall dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel.’ ”

10 Now therefore, be wise, O kings;
Be instructed, you judges of the earth.
11 Serve the Lord with fear,
And rejoice with trembling.
12 [i]Kiss the Son, lest [j]He be angry,
And you perish in the way,
When (I)His wrath is kindled but a little.
(J)Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 2:1 Gentiles
  2. Psalm 2:1 throng tumultuously
  3. Psalm 2:1 worthless or empty
  4. Psalm 2:2 Christ, Commissioned One, Heb. Messiah
  5. Psalm 2:6 Lit. installed
  6. Psalm 2:6 Lit. Upon Zion, the hill of My holiness
  7. Psalm 2:7 Or decree of the Lord: He said to Me
  8. Psalm 2:9 So with MT, Tg.; LXX, Syr., Vg. rule (cf. Rev. 2:27)
  9. Psalm 2:12 LXX, Vg. Embrace discipline; Tg. Receive instruction
  10. Psalm 2:12 LXX the Lord

The Reign of the Lords Anointed.

Why are (A)the [a]nations restless
And the peoples (B)plotting in vain?
The (C)kings of the earth take their stand
And the rulers conspire together
(D)Against the Lord and against His [b](E)Anointed, saying,
“Let’s (F)tear their shackles apart
And throw their ropes away from us!”

He who [c]sits in the heavens (G)laughs,
The Lord (H)scoffs at them.
Then He will speak to them in His (I)anger
And (J)terrify them in His fury, saying,
“But as for Me, I have installed (K)My King
Upon Zion, (L)My holy mountain.”

“I will announce the [d]decree of the Lord:
He said to Me, ‘You are (M)My Son,
Today I have fathered You.
Ask it of Me, and (N)I will certainly give (O)the [e]nations as Your inheritance,
And the (P)ends of the earth as Your possession.
You shall [f](Q)break them with a [g]rod of iron,
You shall (R)shatter them like [h]earthenware.’”

10 Now then, you kings, (S)use insight;
Let yourselves be instructed, you [i]judges of the earth.
11 Serve the Lord with [j](T)reverence
And rejoice with (U)trembling.
12 [k]Kiss (V)the Son, that He not be angry and you perish on the way,
For (W)His wrath may be kindled quickly.
How blessed are all who (X)take refuge in Him!

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 2:1 Or Gentiles
  2. Psalm 2:2 Or Messiah
  3. Psalm 2:4 Or is enthroned
  4. Psalm 2:7 Or decree: The Lord said to Me
  5. Psalm 2:8 Or Gentiles
  6. Psalm 2:9 Another reading is rule
  7. Psalm 2:9 Or scepter; or staff
  8. Psalm 2:9 Lit potter’s ware
  9. Psalm 2:10 Or leaders
  10. Psalm 2:11 Or fear
  11. Psalm 2:12 I.e., probably kiss the feet of the Son

The Reign of the Lord’s Anointed.

Why are the [a]nations in an [b]uproar [in turmoil against God],
And why do the people devise a vain and hopeless plot?

The kings of the earth take their stand;
And the rulers take counsel together
Against the Lord and His Anointed (the Davidic King, the Messiah, the Christ), saying,(A)

“Let us break apart their [divine] bands [of restraint]
And cast away their cords [of control] from us.”


He who sits [enthroned] in the heavens laughs [at their rebellion];
The [Sovereign] [c]Lord scoffs at them [and in supreme contempt He mocks them].

Then He will speak to them in His [profound] anger
And terrify them with His displeasure, saying,

“Yet as for Me, I have anointed and firmly installed My King
Upon Zion, My holy mountain.”


“I will declare the decree of the Lord:
He said to Me, ‘You are My Son;
This day [I proclaim] I have begotten You.(B)

‘Ask of Me, and I will assuredly give [You] the nations as Your inheritance,
And the ends of the earth as Your possession.

‘You shall break them with a rod of iron;
You shall shatter them [in pieces] like earthenware.’”(C)

10 
Now therefore, O kings, act wisely;
Be instructed and take warning, O leaders (judges, rulers) of the earth.
11 
Worship the Lord and serve Him with reverence [with awe-inspired fear and submissive wonder];
Rejoice [yet do so] with trembling.
12 
Kiss (pay respect to) the [d]Son, so that He does not become angry, and you perish in the way,
For His wrath may soon be kindled and set aflame.
How blessed [fortunate, prosperous, and favored by God] are all those who take refuge in Him!

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 2:1 Or Gentiles.
  2. Psalm 2:1 I.e. a confusion of voices.
  3. Psalm 2:4 Heb Adonai.
  4. Psalm 2:12 The word in the original is bar, taken to be the Aramaic for “son.” But it is surprising that an Aramaic word would be used here. The ancient rabbis maintained that a different word with the same spelling in Hebrew was intended, whose meaning is “pure.” They claimed that it is a reference to the Torah, on the ground that all the words in the Torah are pure.

Psalm 2

Why do the nations conspire[a]
    and the peoples plot(A) in vain?
The kings(B) of the earth rise up
    and the rulers band together
    against the Lord and against his anointed,(C) saying,
“Let us break their chains(D)
    and throw off their shackles.”(E)

The One enthroned(F) in heaven laughs;(G)
    the Lord scoffs at them.
He rebukes them in his anger(H)
    and terrifies them in his wrath,(I) saying,
“I have installed my king(J)
    on Zion,(K) my holy mountain.(L)

I will proclaim the Lord’s decree:

He said to me, “You are my son;(M)
    today I have become your father.(N)
Ask me,
    and I will make the nations(O) your inheritance,(P)
    the ends of the earth(Q) your possession.
You will break them with a rod of iron[b];(R)
    you will dash them to pieces(S) like pottery.(T)

10 Therefore, you kings, be wise;(U)
    be warned, you rulers(V) of the earth.
11 Serve the Lord with fear(W)
    and celebrate his rule(X) with trembling.(Y)
12 Kiss his son,(Z) or he will be angry
    and your way will lead to your destruction,
for his wrath(AA) can flare up in a moment.
    Blessed(AB) are all who take refuge(AC) in him.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 2:1 Hebrew; Septuagint rage
  2. Psalm 2:9 Or will rule them with an iron scepter (see Septuagint and Syriac)