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

Why do the nations rage, And the peoples meditate a vain thing?

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 set themselves, And the rulers take counsel together, Against Jehovah, and against his anointed, saying,

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

Let us break their bonds asunder, And cast away their cords from us.

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

He that sitteth in the heavens will laugh: The Lord will have them in derision.

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

Then will he speak unto them in his wrath, And vex them in his sore displeasure:

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

Yet I have set my king Upon 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 tell of the decree: Jehovah said unto me, Thou art my son; This day have I begotten thee.

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 thee the nations for thine inheritance, And the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.

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

Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; Thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.

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

Now therefore be wise, O ye kings: Be instructed, ye judges of the earth.

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

Serve Jehovah with fear, And rejoice 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 ye perish in the way, For his wrath will soon be kindled. Blessed are all they that take refuge in him.