1 W hy have nations tumultuously assembled? And do peoples meditate vanity?

Why do the nations assemble with commotion, and why do the people imagine (meditate upon and devise) an empty scheme?

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

The kings of the earth take their places; the rulers take counsel together against the Lord and His Anointed One (the Messiah, the Christ). They say,

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

Let us break Their bands asunder and cast Their cords from us.

4 H e who is sitting in the heavens doth laugh, The Lord doth mock at them.

He Who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord has them in derision.

5 T hen doth He speak unto them in His anger, And in His wrath He doth trouble them:

He speaks to them in His deep anger and troubles (terrifies and confounds) them in His displeasure and fury, saying,

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

Yet have I anointed (installed and placed) My King on My holy hill of Zion.

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

I will declare the decree of the Lord: He said to Me, You are My Son; this day I have begotten You.

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

Ask of Me, and I will give You the nations as Your inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth as Your possession.

9 T hou dost rule them with a sceptre of iron, As a vessel of a potter Thou dost crush them.'

You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them in pieces like potters’ ware.

10 A nd now, O kings, act wisely, Be instructed, O judges of earth,

Now therefore, O you kings, act wisely; be instructed and warned, O you rulers of the earth.

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

Serve the Lord with reverent awe and worshipful fear; rejoice and be in high spirits with trembling.

12 K iss 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!

Kiss the Son, lest He be angry and you perish in the way, for soon shall His wrath be kindled. O blessed (happy, fortunate, and to be envied) are all those who seek refuge and put their trust in Him!