Psalms 2

1 Why this turmoil of nations, this futile plotting of peoples,

Why do the nations rage, and the peoples imagine a vain thing?

2 with kings of the earth conspiring, and rulers consulting together, against the Lord and against his anointed,

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

3 to snap their bonds and fling their cords away?

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

4 He whose throne is in heaven laughs, the Lord mocks them.

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

5 Then he speaks to them in his wrath, and in his hot anger confounds them.

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

6 ‘This my king is installed by me, on Zion my holy mountain.’

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

7 I will tell of the Lord’s decree. He said to me: ‘You are my son, this day I became your father.

I will tell of the decree: the LORD said unto me, Thou art my son; this day have I begotten thee.

8 Only ask, and I make you the heir of the nations, and lord of the world to its utmost bounds.

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

9 You will break them with sceptre of iron, shatter them like pottery.’

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

10 So now, you kings, be wise: be warned, you rulers of earth.

Now therefore be wise, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth.

11 Serve the Lord in awe, kiss his feet with trembling,

Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.

12 lest, angry, he hurl you to ruin; for soon will his fury blaze. Happy all who take refuge in him.

Kiss the son, lest he be angry, and ye perish in the way, for his wrath will soon be kindled. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.