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Psalm 2:2-4
New English Translation
Psalm 2:2-4
New English Translation
2 The kings of the earth[a] form a united front;[b]
the rulers collaborate[c]
against the Lord and his anointed king.[d]
3 They say,[e] “Let’s tear off the shackles they’ve put on us.[f]
Let’s free ourselves from[g] their ropes.”
4 The one enthroned[h] in heaven laughs in disgust;[i]
the Lord taunts[j] them.
Footnotes
- Psalm 2:2 sn The expression kings of the earth refers somewhat hyperbolically to the kings who had been conquered by and were subject to the Davidic king.
- Psalm 2:2 tn Or “take their stand.” The Hebrew imperfect verbal form describes their action as underway.
- Psalm 2:2 tn Or “conspire together.” The verbal form is a Niphal from יָסַד (yasad). BDB 413-14 s.v. יָסַד defines the verb as “establish, found,” but HALOT 417 s.v. II יסד proposes a homonym meaning “get together, conspire” (an alternate form of סוּד, sud).
- Psalm 2:2 tn Heb “and against his anointed one.” The Davidic king is the referent (see vv. 6-7).
- Psalm 2:3 tn The words “they say” are supplied in the translation for clarification. The quotation represents the words of the rebellious kings.
- Psalm 2:3 tn Heb “their (i.e., the Lord’s and the king’s) shackles.” The kings compare the rule of the Lord and his vice-regent to being imprisoned.
- Psalm 2:3 tn Heb “throw off from us.”
- Psalm 2:4 tn Heb “sitting.” The Hebrew verb יָשַׁב (yashav) is here used metonymically of “sitting enthroned” (see Pss 9:7; 29:10; 55:19; 102:12; 123:1).
- Psalm 2:4 tn As the next line indicates, this refers to derisive laughter. The Hebrew imperfect verbal forms in vv. 4-5 describe the action from the perspective of an eyewitness who is watching the divine response as it unfolds before his eyes.
- Psalm 2:4 tn Or “scoffs at”; “derides”; “mocks.”
New English Translation (NET)
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