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Psalm 2 in Hebrew and English

12 verses, about 1 minute to read aloud. The Hebrew has its vowel points and the English stands under each verse.

The text of the psalm

לָמָּה רָגְשׁוּ גוֹיִם וּלְאֻמִּים יֶהְגּוּ־רִֽיק׃

Why are the nations in an uproar? And why do the peoples mutter in vain?

יִתְיַצְּבוּ מַלְכֵי־אֶרֶץ וְרוֹזְנִים נוֹסְדוּ־יָחַד עַל־יְהוָה וְעַל־מְשִׁיחֽוֹ׃

The kings of the earth stand up, And the rulers take counsel together, Against the LORD, and against His anointed:

נְנַתְּקָה אֶת־מוֹסְרוֹתֵימוֹ וְנַשְׁלִיכָה מִמֶּנּוּ עֲבֹתֵֽימוֹ׃

'Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.'

יוֹשֵׁב בַּשָּׁמַיִם יִשְׂחָק אֲדֹנָי יִלְעַג־לָֽמוֹ׃

He that sitteth in heaven laugheth, the Lord hath them in derision.

אָז יְדַבֵּר אֵלֵימוֹ בְאַפּוֹ וּבַחֲרוֹנוֹ יְבַהֲלֵֽמוֹ׃

Then will He speak unto them in His wrath, and affright them in His sore displeasure:

וַאֲנִי נָסַכְתִּי מַלְכִּי עַל־צִיּוֹן הַר־קָדְשִֽׁי׃

'Truly it is I that have established My king upon Zion, My holy mountain.'

אֲסַפְּרָה אֶל חֹק יְהוָה אָמַר אֵלַי בְּנִי אַתָּה אֲנִי הַיּוֹם יְלִדְתִּֽיךָ׃

I will tell of the decree: The LORD said unto me: 'Thou art My son, this day have I begotten thee.

שְׁאַל מִמֶּנִּי וְאֶתְּנָה גוֹיִם נַחֲלָתֶךָ וַאֲחֻזָּתְךָ אַפְסֵי־אָֽרֶץ׃

Ask of Me, and I will give the nations for thine inheritance, and the ends of the earth for thy possession.

תְּרֹעֵם בְּשֵׁבֶט בַּרְזֶל כִּכְלִי יוֹצֵר תְּנַפְּצֵֽם׃

Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; Thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.'

וְעַתָּה מְלָכִים הַשְׂכִּילוּ הִוָּסְרוּ שֹׁפְטֵי אָֽרֶץ׃

Now therefore, O ye kings, be wise; be admonished, ye judges of the earth.

עִבְדוּ אֶת־יְהוָה בְּיִרְאָה וְגִילוּ בִּרְעָדָֽה׃

Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.

נַשְּׁקוּ־בַר פֶּן־יֶאֱנַף וְתֹאבְדוּ דֶרֶךְ כִּי־יִבְעַר כִּמְעַט אַפּוֹ אַשְׁרֵי כָּל־חוֹסֵי בֽוֹ׃

Do homage in purity, lest He be angry, and ye perish in the way, when suddenly His wrath is kindled. Happy are all they that take refuge in Him.

The Hebrew is the Leningrad Codex, compared with a second edition letter by letter. The English is the Jewish Publication Society translation of 1917, in the public domain.

Where this psalm is read

  • The first of the five books of Psalms
  • Read in the monthly cycle on day 1 of the Hebrew month
  • Read in the weekly cycle on Sunday
  • 12 verses, 92 words, about 1 minute to read

Psalms that are read with this one

All 150 psalms and today's reading·Prayers by the time they are said

Questions about this psalm

How many verses does Psalm 2 have?

Psalm 2 has 12 verses and 92 words.

On which day is Psalm 2 read in the monthly and weekly cycles?

In the monthly cycle it is read on day 1 of the Hebrew month, and in the weekly cycle on Sunday.

Whose name is in the heading of Psalm 2?

Psalm 2 has no heading in the Hebrew text. It opens straight into its first verse.

How long does it take to read Psalm 2?

About 1 minute, at a steady pace.