Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?

The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against his anointed, saying,

Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.

He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.

Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.

Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.

I will declare the decree: the Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.

Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.

Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.

10 Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth.

11 Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling.

12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.

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.

Coronation of Messianic King

Psalm 2

Why are the nations in an uproar,
and the peoples mutter vanity?
The kings of earth set themselves up[a]
and rulers conspire together[b] against Adonai
and against His Anointed One[c]:
“Let’s rip their chains apart,
and throw their ropes off us!”
He who sits in heaven laughs!
Adonai mocks them.
So He will speak to them in His anger,
and terrify them in His fury:
“I have set up My king
upon Zion, My holy mountain.”

I will declare the decree of Adonai.
He said to me: “You are My Son—
today I have become Your Father.[d]
Ask Me,
    and I will give the nations as Your inheritance,
and the far reaches of the earth as Your possession.
You shall break the nations with an iron scepter.[e]
You shall dash them in pieces like a potter’s jar.”[f]

10 So now, O kings, be wise,
take warning, O judges of the earth!
11 Serve Adonai with fear,
and rejoice with trembling.
12 Kiss the Son, lest He become angry,
and you perish along your way—
since His wrath may flare up suddenly.
Happy is everyone taking refuge in Him!

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 2:2 Hebraically, usurping power.
  2. Psalm 2:2 cf. Mark 3:6.
  3. Psalm 2:2 Heb. Mashiach, or Messiah. cf. John 1:41.
  4. Psalm 2:7 cf. Matt. 3:17.
  5. Psalm 2:9 cf. Rev. 12:5, 19:15.
  6. Psalm 2:9 cf. Rev. 2:27.

Psalm 2

Why are the nations so angry?
    Why do they waste their time with futile plans?
The kings of the earth prepare for battle;
    the rulers plot together
against the Lord
    and against his anointed one.
“Let us break their chains,” they cry,
    “and free ourselves from slavery to God.”

But the one who rules in heaven laughs.
    The Lord scoffs at them.
Then in anger he rebukes them,
    terrifying them with his fierce fury.
For the Lord declares, “I have placed my chosen king on the throne
    in Jerusalem,[a] on my holy mountain.”

The king proclaims the Lord’s decree:
“The Lord said to me, ‘You are my son.[b]
    Today I have become your Father.[c]
Only ask, and I will give you the nations as your inheritance,
    the whole earth as your possession.
You will break[d] them with an iron rod
    and smash them like clay pots.’”

10 Now then, you kings, act wisely!
    Be warned, you rulers of the earth!
11 Serve the Lord with reverent fear,
    and rejoice with trembling.
12 Submit to God’s royal son,[e] or he will become angry,
    and you will be destroyed in the midst of all your activities—
for his anger flares up in an instant.
    But what joy for all who take refuge in him!

Footnotes

  1. 2:6 Hebrew on Zion.
  2. 2:7a Or Son; also in 2:12.
  3. 2:7b Or Today I reveal you as my son.
  4. 2:9 Greek version reads rule. Compare Rev 2:27.
  5. 2:12 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain.