The Geoffrey Burrows Bible Project
← All books

Psalm 2

Reading edition · Reviewed and published 25th October 2026

Psalm 2 Why do the nations rage and plot vain plots? The kings and the rulers, with the people, stand together to be against You, the Eternal One, and against His Anointed One. They say, “Let us break away from them. They are bound to us as with chains. Let us throw them out and break away from them—yes, from their restraints they put on us!” The ‘One’ who sits on the ‘Throne’ in the heavens, He will show by the words of His mouth how small they are. The Lord shows how weak they have become in words they use every day. Then He rebukes them with words against them in anger, and in His Wrath He terrifies them, showing them their sin. He puts them to the test in the trial of His fury. He says to them: “Yes! It is Me who has anointed My King on the Holy Hill of Sion!” I will make public the ‘Decree of the Eternal One’, for He said to Me, “My Son, today I have begotten You into the world. Ask of Me what You will, for I will make the nations ‘Your Inheritance’, and You will possess all right to the ends of the earth. You will rule them with an iron sceptre. You will dash them to pieces like iron destroys useless pottery.” Therefore now, Kings and Rulers of the earth, be wise; be warned! Serve the Eternal One with fear, and rejoice with trembling, with awe and wonder at His Love in His Salvation. Kiss the Son lest He be angry and He destroys you in your way of life. His wrath can flare up in a moment. Oh how (Blest) are all those who take refuge in Him!

Geoffrey’s notes

Note 5

rage, anger and violence.

Cross-references: See Acts ch. 4 vrs 23–26.

Source page: View provenance
Note 6

Eternal One, Lord.

Source page: View provenance
Note 7

them, the Eternal One and His Anointed One. God is plural in the Hebrew as in Genesis ch 1. vrs 1. He is also known in the singular.

Cross-references: John ch 17 vrs 21.

Source page: View provenance
Note 8

to us as with chains, mankind were made in the image of God to be like Him. They were to rule with Him. When they do not things go wrong, starting with saying, “God did not create us, it just happened, we are on our own.”

Cross-references: Genesis ch 1 vrs 26,27,28.

Source page: View provenance
Note 9

throw them out.

Source page: View provenance
Note 10

yes from their restraints, moral codes

Source page: View provenance
Note 11

in words they use everyday. to deride, scorn and scoff, so that they will humble themselves before their Creator God.

Source page: View provenance
Note 12

Yes! it is Me who has anointed My King on the Holy Hill of Sion! King David and the Anointed One to come who will sit on his throne.

Cross-references: See Acts ch. 2. vrs 22–32.

Source page: View provenance
Note 13

the ‘Decree of the Eternal One’, if the decree of the Medes and Persians cannot be changed, How much more so is the Decree of the Eternal One.

Cross-references: Daniel ch. 6 vrs 8,9.

Source page: View provenance
Note 14

My Son, as understood by the Jews in the days of Jesus. Those who ‘Believe’ can see who He is as the Son of God.

Cross-references: Ref. Matthew ch 26 vrs 63–65. Mark ch. 14 vrs 61–63, Luke ch. 22 vrs 67–70 and John ch. 19 vrs 7. Philippians ch. 2 vrs 6–11.

Source page: View provenance
Note 15

You will possess all right to the ends of the earth. To the most remote tribes.

Source page: View provenance
Note 16

Kiss the Son, to be friends

Cross-references: See John ch. 15 vrs 9–17.

Source page: View provenance
Faithful master transcription

Page 2. Psalm 2. Why do the nations [[5]]rage and plot vain plots? The kings and the rulers with the people stand together to be against You, the [[6]]Eternal One and against His Anointed One, they say, “Let us break away from [[7]]them, they are bound [[8]]to us as with chains, let us [[9]]throw them out and break away from them, [[10]]yes from their restraints they put on us!” The ‘One’ who sits on the ‘Throne’ in the heavens, He will show by the words of His mouth how small they are, the Lord shows how weak they have become [[11]]in words they use everyday. Then He rebukes them with words against them in anger and in His Wrath, He terrifies them showing them their sin. He puts them to the test in the trial of His fury. He says to them: [[12]]Yes! it is Me who has anointed My King on the Holy Hill of Sion! I will make public [[13]]the ‘Decree of the Eternal One’, for He said to Me, [[14]]My Son today I have begotten You into the world, ask of Me what You will for I will make the nations ‘Your Inheritance’, and [[15]]You will possess all right to the ends of the earth. You will rule them with an iron sceptre, You will dash them to pieces like iron destroys useless pottery. Therefore now! Kings and Rulers of the earth be wise, be warned! Serve! the Page 3. Eternal One with fear and rejoice! with trembling! with awe and wonder! at His Love in His Salvation. [[16]]Kiss the Son lest He be angry and He destroys you in your way of life. His wrath can flare up in a moment. Oh how (Blest) are all those who take refuge in Him!

Source and editorial record

Published revision 2b895a0d-3ed0-4253-a993-e09391cc2ee7. Source checksums identify the immutable originals.

Psalm 2 (p2).jpg · paraphrase · page 1

SHA-256: 171e434eada9046c9191c9a013b1553e262b6cebc7377de7fa5fa498ae64d52c

Psalm 2 (notes cont .jpg · notes · page 2

SHA-256: 0cb95bbaaeda241667fd6a30ccbcd847f4714019641f582a9bf4e8c8aa91e268

Psalm 2(notes ).jpg · notes · page 3

SHA-256: e2816890de6ccc10e4e85a6bf41feca98cefcaa60f2d2f3fbbd895dc116f4929

Psalm 2 cont .jpg · paraphrase · page 1

SHA-256: ff018325f4bc06a70f74aa11723be06477a2c55c586b12a9d5f70ef2127993f8