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Christian prayer

Psalm 2

Psalm 2 from the Bible, with the original text and its meaning.

  • 12 verses
  • Under a minute to recite
  • From the Bible

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  1. 1

    לָ֭מָּה רָגְשׁ֣וּ גוֹיִ֑ם וּ֝לְאֻמִּ֗ים יֶהְגּוּ־רִֽיק׃

    Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?

  2. 2

    יִ֥תְיַצְּב֨וּ ׀ מַלְכֵי־אֶ֗רֶץ וְרוֹזְנִ֥ים נֽוֹסְדוּ־יָ֑חַד עַל־יְ֝הוָה וְעַל־מְשִׁיחֽוֹ׃

    The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying,

  3. 3

    נְֽ֭נַתְּקָה אֶת־מֽוֹסְרוֹתֵ֑ימוֹ וְנַשְׁלִ֖יכָה מִמֶּ֣נּוּ עֲבֹתֵֽימוֹ׃

    Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.

  4. 4

    יוֹשֵׁ֣ב בַּשָּׁמַ֣יִם יִשְׂחָ֑ק אֲ֝דֹנָ֗י יִלְעַג־לָֽמוֹ׃

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

  5. 5

    אָ֤ז יְדַבֵּ֣ר אֵלֵ֣ימוֹ בְאַפּ֑וֹ וּֽבַחֲרוֹנ֥וֹ יְבַהֲלֵֽמוֹ׃

    Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.

  6. 6

    וַ֭אֲנִי נָסַ֣כְתִּי מַלְכִּ֑י עַל־צִ֝יּ֗וֹן הַר־קָדְשִֽׁי׃

    Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.

  7. 7

    אֲסַפְּרָ֗ה אֶֽ֫ל חֹ֥ק יְֽהוָ֗ה אָמַ֘ר אֵלַ֥י בְּנִ֥י אַ֑תָּה אֲ֝נִ֗י הַיּ֥וֹם יְלִדְתִּֽיךָ׃

    I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.

  8. 8

    שְׁאַ֤ל מִמֶּ֗נִּי וְאֶתְּנָ֣ה ג֭וֹיִם נַחֲלָתֶ֑ךָ וַ֝אֲחֻזָּתְךָ֗ אַפְסֵי־אָֽרֶץ׃

    Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.

  9. 9

    תְּ֭רֹעֵם בְּשֵׁ֣בֶט בַּרְזֶ֑ל כִּכְלִ֖י יוֹצֵ֣ר תְּנַפְּצֵֽם׃

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

  10. 10

    וְ֭עַתָּה מְלָכִ֣ים הַשְׂכִּ֑ילוּ הִ֝וָּסְר֗וּ שֹׁ֣פְטֵי אָֽרֶץ׃

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

  11. 11

    עִבְד֣וּ אֶת־יְהוָ֣ה בְּיִרְאָ֑ה וְ֝גִ֗ילוּ בִּרְעָדָֽה׃

    Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.

  12. 12

    נַשְּׁקוּ־בַ֡ר פֶּן־יֶאֱנַ֤ף ׀ וְתֹ֬אבְדוּ דֶ֗רֶךְ כִּֽי־יִבְעַ֣ר כִּמְעַ֣ט אַפּ֑וֹ אַ֝שְׁרֵ֗י כָּל־ח֥וֹסֵי בֽוֹ׃

    Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.

Wording: The Holy Bible, King James Version, 1611 (standard text of 1769). Copied word for word from the edition named here

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When it is prayed

Many Christians recite Psalm 2 in personal prayer or as part of regular worship, reflecting on God's authority amid conflict. In the Christian tradition, it is also read in connection with Jesus as the Messiah, especially when reflecting on his resurrection and kingship.

  • Personal prayer
  • Church worship
  • Easter
  • Times of conflict

Where it comes from

Psalm 2 comes from the Book of Psalms in the Old Testament and was originally written in Hebrew. It is a royal psalm concerning God's anointed king. The psalm itself has no author heading, though the New Testament attributes it to David and applies its words to Jesus.

In the libraryThe King James Version of the BibleSee the book

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Questions about Psalm 2

How many verses are in Psalm 2?

Psalm 2 has 12 verses.

What is Psalm 2 about?

It describes nations and rulers rebelling against God and his anointed king. It ends by urging rulers to act wisely and take refuge in God.

Why do Christians connect Psalm 2 with Jesus?

The New Testament quotes Psalm 2 in connection with Jesus. In the Christian tradition, its language about God's anointed king and Son is understood as pointing to him.

Who wrote Psalm 2?

The psalm has no author heading in the Book of Psalms. The New Testament attributes it to David.

What language was Psalm 2 written in?

Psalm 2 was originally written in Hebrew, like the other psalms in the biblical Book of Psalms.

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