Corpus Psalterium · Vol. I
Psalm II (2)
Cantillated — Royal Proclamation
Paul Whitehorn
Study the Word
Psalm 2 in Hebrew and English, and the words as they are sung.
Why do the nations rage, and the peoples plot a vain thing?
לָ֭מָּה רָגְשׁ֣וּ גוֹיִ֑ם וּ֝לְאֻמִּ֗ים יֶהְגּוּ־רִֽיק׃
The kings of the earth take a stand, and the rulers take counsel together, against Yahweh, and against his Anointed, saying,
יִ֥תְיַצְּב֨וּ ׀ מַלְכֵי־אֶ֗רֶץ וְרוֹזְנִ֥ים נֽוֹסְדוּ־יָ֑חַד עַל־יְ֝הוָה וְעַל־מְשִׁיחֽוֹ׃
“Let’s break their bonds apart, and cast their cords from us.”
נְֽ֭נַתְּקָה אֶת־מֽוֹסְרוֹתֵ֑ימוֹ וְנַשְׁלִ֖יכָה מִמֶּ֣נּוּ עֲבֹתֵֽימוֹ׃
He who sits in the heavens will laugh. The Lord will have them in derision.
יוֹשֵׁ֣ב בַּשָּׁמַ֣יִם יִשְׂחָ֑ק אֲ֝דֹנָ֗י יִלְעַג־לָֽמוֹ׃
Then he will speak to them in his anger, and terrify them in his wrath:
אָ֤ז יְדַבֵּ֣ר אֵלֵ֣ימוֹ בְאַפּ֑וֹ וּֽבַחֲרוֹנ֥וֹ יְבַהֲלֵֽמוֹ׃
“Yet I have set my King on my holy hill of Zion.”
וַ֭אֲנִי נָסַ֣כְתִּי מַלְכִּ֑י עַל־צִ֝יּ֗וֹן הַר־קָדְשִֽׁי׃
I will tell of the decree: Yahweh said to me, “You are my son. Today I have become your father.
אֲסַפְּרָ֗ה אֶֽ֫ל חֹ֥ק יְֽהוָ֗ה אָמַ֘ר אֵלַ֥י בְּנִ֥י אַ֑תָּה אֲ֝נִ֗י הַיּ֥וֹם יְלִדְתִּֽיךָ׃
Ask of me, and I will give the nations for your inheritance, the uttermost parts of the earth for your possession.
שְׁאַ֤ל מִמֶּ֗נִּי וְאֶתְּנָ֣ה ג֭וֹיִם נַחֲלָתֶ֑ךָ וַ֝אֲחֻזָּתְךָ֗ אַפְסֵי־אָֽרֶץ׃
You shall break them with a rod of iron. You shall dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.”
תְּ֭רֹעֵם בְּשֵׁ֣בֶט בַּרְזֶ֑ל כִּכְלִ֖י יוֹצֵ֣ר תְּנַפְּצֵֽם׃
Now therefore be wise, you kings. Be instructed, you judges of the earth.
וְ֭עַתָּה מְלָכִ֣ים הַשְׂכִּ֑ילוּ הִ֝וָּסְר֗וּ שֹׁ֣פְטֵי אָֽרֶץ׃
Serve Yahweh with fear, and rejoice with trembling.
עִבְד֣וּ אֶת־יְהוָ֣ה בְּיִרְאָ֑ה וְ֝גִ֗ילוּ בִּרְעָדָֽה׃
Give sincere homage to the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish on the way, for his wrath will soon be kindled. Blessed are all those who take refuge in him.
נַשְּׁקוּ־בַ֡ר פֶּן־יֶאֱנַ֤ף ׀ וְתֹ֬אבְדוּ דֶ֗רֶךְ כִּֽי־יִבְעַ֣ר כִּמְעַ֣ט אַפּ֑וֹ אַ֝שְׁרֵ֗י כָּל־ח֥וֹסֵי בֽוֹ׃
Hebrew: Westminster Leningrad Codex (public domain), from the Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible. English: World English Bible (public domain). Verse numbers follow the English Bible; the Hebrew numbering is shown beneath where it differs.
Why do the nations rage
Why do the nations rage
Why do the peoples meditate emptiness
Why do the nations rage
and the peoples meditate emptiness
The kings of the earth take their stand
and the rulers take counsel together
Against the Lord
and against His Anointed
"Let us tear off their bonds"
"Let us cast away their cords from us"
Tear off their bonds
Cast away their cords
Tear off their bonds
Cast away their cords
He who sits in the heavens laughs
The Lord holds them in derision
Then He speaks to them in His wrath
and in His burning anger He terrifies them
"But I have set My King
upon Zion
My holy mountain"
I will declare the decree
The Lord said to me
"You are My Son
Today I have begotten You"
Ask of Me
and I will give the nations as Your inheritance
and the ends of the earth
as Your possession
The nations as Your inheritance
The ends of the earth
as Your possession
You shall break them with a rod of iron
You shall shatter them like a potter's vessel
And now, O kings
show discernment
Take warning
O judges of the earth
Be warned
Be wise
Be warned
Be wise
Serve the Lord with fear
and rejoice
with trembling
Kiss the Son
lest He become angry
and you perish in the way
for His wrath may be kindled quickly
Blessed are all
who take refuge in Him
Blessed are all
who take refuge in Him
Lyrics by Paul Whitehorn: a singable English rendering of the Hebrew, as sung on this recording.
Corpus Psalterium sets each psalm to music by its Hebrew grammar. Didactic psalms teach; Cantillated psalms are spoken, sung or performed before God. Hear all 150 psalms free.