Act I – The Nations Speak

¹How dare the nations plan a rebellion.

Their foolish plots are futile!

²Look at how the power brokers of the world

rise up to hold their summit

as the rulers scheme and confer together

against Yahweh and his Anointed King, saying:

³“Let’s come together and break away from the Creator.

Once and for all let’s cast off these controlling chains

of God and his Christ!”

Act II – God Speaks

⁴God-Enthroned merely laughs at them;[#2:4 The Aramaic is Maryah , the Aramaic form of or Lord .]

the Sovereign One mocks their madness!

⁵Then with the fierceness of his fiery anger,

he settles the issue and terrifies them to death with these words:

⁶“I myself have poured out my King on Zion, my holy mountain.”[#2:6 The Hebrew word ( nacak ) is frequently used for pouring out a drink offering to God. See Num. 28:7. Jesus was “poured out” as a consecrated offering.; #2:6 The word Zion is found 157 times in the Bible and 38 times in the Psalms.; #2:6 For the believer today, Zion is not only a place but also a realm where Christ is enthroned.]

Act III – The Son Speaks

⁷“I will reveal the eternal purpose of God.

For he has decreed over me, ‘You are my favored Son.

And as your Father I have crowned you as my King Eternal.

Today I became your Father.

⁸Ask me to give you the nations and I will do it,[#2:8 Or in the Masoretic Text “Ask wealth of me.”]

and they shall become your legacy.

Your domain will stretch to the ends of the earth.

⁹And you will shepherd them with unlimited authority,[#2:9 As translated from the Septuagint.]

crushing their rebellion as an iron rod smashes jars of clay!’ ”

Act IV – The Holy Spirit Speaks

¹⁰“Listen to me, all you rebel kings

and all you upstart judges of the earth.

Learn your lesson while there’s still time .

¹¹Serve and worship the awe-inspiring God.

Recognize his greatness and bow before him,

trembling with reverence in his presence.

¹²Fall facedown before him and kiss the Son[#2:12 Or “be ruled by the Son.” The Hebrew word for “kiss” is nashaq and can also mean “to be ruled by” or “be in subjection to” the Son. Yet another possible translation of this difficult verse is “be armed with purity.”]

before his anger is roused against you.

Remember that his wrath can be quickly kindled!

But many blessings are waiting for all

who turn aside to hide themselves in him!”