The Lord's Anointed King
Psalms 2
The nations and their kings rage and conspire against the Lord and his Christ, but the Lord sets his king upon Sion and declares him his Son, giving him the nations as an inheritance, and the psalm ends warning kings to serve the Lord with fear and take refuge in him.
About these editions
The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.
Thomson 1808Septuagint
Brenton 1851Septuagint
Greek · BrentonSeptuagint
KJV 1769Masoretic
JPS 1917Masoretic
1
ThomsonWHY did nations rage? And tribes meditate vain things?
BrentonWherefore did the heathen rage, and the nations imagine vain things?
GreekἹνατί ἐφρύαξαν ἔθνη, καὶ λαοὶ ἐμελέτησαν κενά;
KJVWhy do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?
JPS—
2
ThomsonThe kings of the earth combined; and the chiefs assembled together, against the Lord and against his Anointed, [saying]:
BrentonThe kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers gathered themselves together, against the Lord, and against his Christ;
GreekΠαρέστησαν οἱ βασιλεῖς τῆς γῆς, καὶ οἱ ἄρχοντες συνήχθησαν ἐπιτοαυτὸ κατὰ τοῦ Κυρίου, καὶ κατὰ τοῦ Χριστοῦ αὐτοῦ.
KJVThe kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying,
JPSThe kings of the earth stand up, And the rulers take counsel together, Against the LORD, and against His anointed:
3
ThomsonLet us break their bands asunder and throw off from us their yoke.
Brentonsaying, Let us break through their bonds, and cast away their yoke from us.
GreekΔιαῤῥήξωμεν τοὺς δεσμοὺς αὐτῶν, καὶ ἀποῤῥίψωμεν ἀφʼ ἡμῶν τὸν ζυγὸν αὐτῶν.
KJVLet us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.
JPS'Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.'
4
ThomsonHe who dwelleth in heaven will laugh them to scorn—the Lord will treat them with derision.
BrentonHe that dwells in the heavens shall laugh them to scorn, and the Lord shall mock them.
GreekὉ κατοικῶν ἐν οὐρανοῖς ἐκγελάσεται αὐτοὺς, καὶ ὁ Κύριος ἐκμυκτηριεῖ αὐτούς.
KJVHe that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the LORD shall have them in derision.
JPS—
5
ThomsonThen will He speak to them in His wrath and trouble them with His sore displeasure.
BrentonThen shall he speak to them in his anger, and trouble them in his fury.
GreekΤότε λαλήσει πρὸς αὐτοὺς ἐν ὀργῇ αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐν τῷ θυμῷ αὐτοῦ ταράξει αὐτούς.
KJVThen shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.
JPSThen will He speak unto them in His wrath, and affright them in His sore displeasure:
6
ThomsonBut as for me, by him I am appointed king on Sion, His holy mountain.
BrentonBut I have been made king by him on Sion his holy mountain,
GreekἘγὼ δὲ κατεστάθην βασιλεὺς ὑπʼ αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ Σιὼν ὄρος τὸ ἅγιον αὐτοῦ,
KJVYet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.
JPS'Truly it is I that have established My king upon Zion, My holy mountain.'
7
ThomsonI proclaim the decree of the Lord; to me the Lord said: Thou art my Son, this day I have begotten thee,
Brentondeclaring the ordinance of the Lord: the Lord said to me, Thou art my Son, to-day have I begotten thee.
Greekδιαγγέλλων τὸ πρόσταγμα Κυρίου· Κύριος εἶπε πρὸς μὲ, υἱός μου εἶ σὺ, ἐγὼ σήμερον γεγέννηκά σε.
KJVI will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.
JPSI will tell of the decree: The LORD said unto me: 'Thou art My son, this day have I begotten thee.
8
ThomsonAsk of Me, and I will give thee nations for thine inheritance, and the utmost parts of the earth for thy possession.
BrentonAsk of me, and I will give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the ends of the earth for thy possession.
GreekΑἴτησαι παρʼ ἐμοῦ, καὶ δώσω σοι ἔθνη τὴν κληρονομίαν σου, καὶ τὴν κατάσχεσίν σου τὰ πέρατα τῆς γῆς.
KJVAsk of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.
JPSAsk of Me, and I will give the nations for thine inheritance, and the ends of the earth for thy possession.
9
ThomsonThou shalt rule them with a rod of iron. Thou shalt break them to pieces like a potter’s vessel.
BrentonThou shalt rule them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces as a potter's vessel.
GreekΠοιμανεῖς αὐτοὺς ἐν ῥάβδῳ σιδηρᾷ, ὡς σκεῦος κεραμέως συντρίψεις αὐτούς.
KJVThou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.
JPSThou shalt break them with a rod of iron; Thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.'
10
ThomsonNow therefore, O kings, be wise: Be instructed, all ye, who judge the earth.
BrentonNow therefore understand, ye kings: be instructed, all ye that judge the earth.
GreekΚαὶ νῦν βασιλεῖς σύνετε, παιδεύθητε πάντες οἱ κρίνοντες τὴν γῆν.
KJVBe wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth.
JPSNow therefore, O ye kings, be wise; be admonished, ye judges of the earth.
11
ThomsonServe the Lord with fear: and rejoice for Him with trembling.
BrentonServe the Lord with fear, and rejoice in him with trembling.
GreekΔουλεύσατε τῷ Κυρίῳ ἐν φόβῳ, καὶ ἀγαλλιᾶσθε αὐτῷ ἐν τρόμῳ.
KJVServe the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.
JPSServe the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.
12
ThomsonKeep fast hold of instruction; the Lord may be angry and you may perish out of the right way. When His anger suddenly blazeth forth, happy are all they who have trusted in Him.
BrentonAccept correction, lest at any time the Lord be angry, and ye should perish from the righteous way: whensoever his wrath shall be suddenly kindled, blessed are all they that trust in him.
GreekΔράξασθε παιδείας, μή ποτε ὀργισθῇ Κύριος, καὶ ἀπολεῖσθε ἐξ ὁδοῦ δικαίας· ὅταν ἐκκαυθῇ ἐν τάχει ὁ θυμὸς αὐτοῦ, μακάριοι πάντες οἱ πεποιθότες ἐπʼ αὐτῷ.
KJVKiss 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.
JPSDo homage in purity, lest He be angry, and ye perish in the way, when suddenly His wrath is kindled. Happy are all they that take refuge in Him.