Psalms 2
1 (Why do the [leaders of] nations rage [against God]?/It is foolish for the nations to be angry [with God]) [RHQ]. (Why do people plan to rebel [against God] even though it is in vain?/It is useless for people to plan to rebel [against God]) [RHQ]!
Whi gnastiden with teeth hethene men; and puplis thouyten veyn thingis?
2 The kings of the nations prepare to revolt; the rulers plot together [to fight] against Yahweh and against his chosen king.
The kyngis of erthe stoden togidere; and princes camen togidere ayens the Lord, and ayens his Crist?
3 They shout, “We should free ourselves from their control [MET]; we should not let them rule over us any longer!”
Breke we the bondis of hem; and cast we awei the yok of hem fro vs.
4 But Yahweh, the one who sits [on his throne] in heaven, laughs [at them]; he ridicules those rulers.
He that dwellith in heuenes schal scorne hem; and the Lord schal bimowe hem.
5 Then, because he is angry with them, he rebukes them. He causes them to be terrified when [they realize] that he will furiously punish them.
Thanne he schal speke to hem in his ire; and he schal disturble hem in his stronge veniaunce.
6 [Yahweh says], “I have installed my king on Zion, my sacred hill [in Jerusalem].”
Forsothe Y am maad of hym a kyng on Syon, his hooli hil; prechynge his comaundement.
7 [And his king says], “I will proclaim what Yahweh has decreed. He said to me, ‘[It is as though] you are my son; today I have declared to everyone that [it is as though] [MET] I am your father.
The Lord seide to me, Thou art my sone; Y haue gendrid thee to dai.
8 Ask me to give you the nations, so that they belong to you [to rule over them permanently], and I will give them to you. [Even] the most remote nations will be yours.
Axe thou of me, and Y schal yyue to thee hethene men thin eritage; and thi possessioun the termes of erthe.
9 You will defeat them completely [MET]; you will [destroy them like people] smash a clay pot with an iron rod [SIM].’”
Thou schalt gouerne hem in an yrun yerde; and thou schalt breke hem as the vessel of a pottere.
10 So then, you kings and other rulers on the earth, act wisely! [Heed what Yahweh is] warning you!
And now, ye kyngis, vndurstonde; ye that demen the erthe, be lerud.
11 Serve Yahweh, fervently revering him; Rejoice [about what he has done for you], but tremble before him!
Serue ye the Lord with drede; and make ye ful ioye to hym with tremblyng.
12 Bow down humbly before his son! If you do not do that, Yahweh will be angry, and he will suddenly get rid of you. Do not forget that he can very quickly show that he is very angry! But he is very pleased with all those who request him to protect them [MET].
Take ye lore; lest the Lord be wrooth sumtyme, and lest ye perischen fro iust waie. Whanne his `ire brenneth out in schort tyme; blessed ben alle thei, that tristen in hym.
