1 W hy do the nations rage, And the peoples meditate a vain thing?

Why have nations tumultuously assembled? And do peoples meditate vanity?

2 T he kings of the earth set themselves, And the rulers take counsel together, Against Jehovah, and against his anointed, saying,

Station themselves do kings of the earth, And princes have been united together, Against Jehovah, and against His Messiah:

3 L et us break their bonds asunder, And cast away their cords from us.

`Let us draw off Their cords, And cast from us Their thick bands.'

4 H e that sitteth in the heavens will laugh: The Lord will have them in derision.

He who is sitting in the heavens doth laugh, The Lord doth mock at them.

5 T hen will he speak unto them in his wrath, And vex them in his sore displeasure:

Then doth He speak unto them in His anger, And in His wrath He doth trouble them:

6 Y et I have set my king Upon my holy hill of Zion.

`And I -- I have anointed My King, Upon Zion -- My holy hill.'

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

I declare concerning a statute: Jehovah said unto me, `My Son Thou, I to-day have brought thee forth.

8 A sk of me, and I will give thee the nations for thine inheritance, And the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.

Ask of Me and I give nations -- thy inheritance, And thy possession -- the ends of earth.

9 T hou shalt break them with a rod of iron; Thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.

Thou dost rule them with a sceptre of iron, As a vessel of a potter Thou dost crush them.'

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

And now, O kings, act wisely, Be instructed, O judges of earth,

11 S erve Jehovah with fear, And rejoice with trembling.

Serve ye Jehovah with fear, And rejoice with trembling.

12 K iss the son, lest he be angry, and ye perish in the way, For his wrath will soon be kindled. Blessed are all they that take refuge in him.

Kiss the Chosen One, lest He be angry, And ye lose the way, When His anger burneth but a little, O the happiness of all trusting in Him!