New Living Translation NLT
English Standard Version ESV
1 Why are the nations so angry? Why do they waste their time with futile plans?
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Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?
2 The kings of the earth prepare for battle; the rulers plot together against the LORD and against his anointed one.
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The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against his Anointed, saying,
3 “Let us break their chains,” they cry, “and free ourselves from slavery to God.”
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“Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us. ”
4 But the one who rules in heaven laughs. The Lord scoffs at them.
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He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision.
5 Then in anger he rebukes them, terrifying them with his fierce fury.
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Then he will speak to them in his wrath, and terrify them in his fury, saying,
6 For the Lord declares, “I have placed my chosen king on the throne in Jerusalem, on my holy mountain.”
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“As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill. ”
7 The king proclaims the LORD ’s decree: “The LORD said to me, ‘You are my son. Today I have become your Father.
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I will tell of the decree: The Lord said to me, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you.
8 Only ask, and I will give you the nations as your inheritance, the whole earth as your possession.
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Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession.
9 You will break them with an iron rod and smash them like clay pots.’”
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You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel. ”
10 Now then, you kings, act wisely! Be warned, you rulers of the earth!
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Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth.
11 Serve the LORD with reverent fear, and rejoice with trembling.
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Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling.
12 Submit to God’s royal son, or he will become angry, and you will be destroyed in the midst of all your activities— for his anger flares up in an instant. But what joy for all who take refuge in him!
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Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by
Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2025