Psalms 2

1 Wherefore have nations assembled in tumult? Or should, peoples, mutter an empty thing?

Why have the Gentiles been seething, and why have the people been pondering nonsense?

2 The kings of earth take their station, and, grave men, have met by appointment together, —against Yahweh, and against his Anointed One [saying]:

The kings of the earth have stood up, and the leaders have joined together as one, against the Lord and against his Christ:

3 Let us break asunder their bonds, —and cast from us their cords!

“Let us shatter their chains and cast their yoke away from us.”

4 He that sitteth in the heavens, will laugh, —My Lord, will mock at them:

He who dwells in heaven will ridicule them, and the Lord will mock them.

5 Then, will he speak unto them in his anger, and, in his wrath, confound them:

Then will he speak to them in his anger and trouble them with his fury.

6 Yet, I, have installed my king, —on Zion my holy mountain.

Yet I have been appointed king by him over Zion, his holy mountain, preaching his precepts.

7 Let me tell of a decree, —Yahweh, hath said unto me, My son, thou art, I, to-day, have begotten thee:

The Lord has said to me: You are my son, this day have I begotten you.

8 Ask of me, and let me give nations as thine inheritance, and, as thy possession, the ends of the earth:

Ask of me and I will give to you: the Gentiles for your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for your possession.

9 Thou shalt shepherd them with a sceptre of iron, —as a potter’s vessel, shalt thou dash them in pieces.

You will rule them with an iron rod, and you will shatter them like a potter’s vessel.

10 Now, therefore, ye kings, show your prudence, Be admonished, ye judges of earth:

And now, O kings, understand. Receive instruction, you who judge the earth.

11 Serve Yahweh with reverence, and exult with trembling:

Serve the Lord in fear, and exult in him with trembling.

12 Kiss the son, lest he be angry, and ye perish by the way, for soon might be kindled his anger, —How happy are all who seek refuge in him!

Embrace discipline, lest at any time the Lord might become angry, and you would perish from the way of the just. Though his wrath can flare up in a short time, blessed are all those who trust in him.