₁Why do the nations plan rebellion?

Why do people make their useless plots?

₂Their kings revolt,

their rulers plot together against the LORD

and against the king he chose.

₃“Let us free ourselves from their rule,” they say;

“let us throw off their control.”

₄From his throne in heaven the Lord laughs

and mocks their feeble plans.

₅Then he warns them in anger

and terrifies them with his fury.

₆“On Zion, my sacred hill,” he says,

“I have installed my king.”

₇“I will announce,” says the king, “what the LORD has declared.

He said to me: ‘You are my son;

today I have become your father.

₈Ask, and I will give you all the nations;

the whole earth will be yours.

₉You will break them with an iron rod;

you will shatter them in pieces like a clay pot.’ ”

₁₀Now listen to this warning, you kings;

learn this lesson, you rulers of the world:

₁₁Serve the LORD with fear;

₁₂tremble and bow down to him;

or else his anger will be quickly aroused,

and you will suddenly die.

Happy are all who go to him for protection.

₁The LORD is king;

and the people tremble.

He is enthroned above the winged creatures

and the earth shakes.

₂The LORD is mighty in Zion;

he is supreme over all the nations.

₃Everyone will praise his great and majestic name.

Holy is he!

₄Mighty king, you love what is right;

you have established justice in Israel;

you have brought righteousness and fairness.

₅Praise the LORD our God;

worship before his throne!

Holy is he!

₆Moses and Aaron were his priests,

and Samuel was one who prayed to him;

they called to the LORD, and he answered them.

₇He spoke to them from the pillar of cloud;

they obeyed the laws and commands that he gave them.

₈O LORD, our God, you answered your people;

you showed them that you are a God who forgives,

even though you punished them for their sins.

₉Praise the LORD our God,

and worship at his sacred hill!

The LORD our God is holy.