Psalm 2 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Psalm 2

God’s Promise to His Anointed

1 Why do the nations conspire
and the peoples plot in vain?(A)
2 The kings of the earth set themselves,
and the rulers take counsel together,
against the Lord and his anointed, saying,(B)
3 “Let us burst their bonds apart
and cast their cords from us.”

4 He who sits in the heavens laughs;
the Lord has them in derision.(C)
5 Then he will speak to them in his wrath
and terrify them in his fury, saying,(D)
6 “I have set my king on Zion, my holy hill.”(E)

7 I will tell of the decree of the Lord:
He said to me, “You are my son;
today I have begotten you.(F)
8 Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage
and the ends of the earth your possession.(G)
9 You shall break them with a rod of iron
and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.”(H)

10 Now therefore, O kings, be wise;
be warned, O rulers of the earth.
11 Serve the Lord with fear;
with trembling(I)12 kiss his feet,[a]
or he will be angry, and you will perish in the way,
for his wrath is quickly kindled.

Happy are all who take refuge in him.(J)

Footnotes

  1. 2.12Cn: Meaning of Heb of 2.11b and 12a is uncertain

Cross references

  1. 2.1 : Ps 21.11; Acts 4.25
  2. 2.2 : Ps 48.4–6; 74.18, 23; Jn 1.41
  3. 2.4 : Ps 59.8
  4. 2.5 : Ps 21.8, 9
  5. 2.6 : Ps 3.4
  6. 2.7 : Acts 13.33; Heb 1.5
  7. 2.8 : Ps 22.27
  8. 2.9 : Ps 89.23; Rev 2.27
  9. 2.11 : Ps 119.119, 120; Heb 12.28
  10. 2.12 : Ps 34.8; Jn 5.23