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Ask me,
and I will give you the nations as your inheritance,[a]
the ends of the earth as your personal property.
You will break them[b] with an iron scepter;[c]
you will smash them like a potter’s jar.’”[d]
10 So now, you kings, do what is wise;[e]
you rulers of the earth, submit to correction.[f]

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 2:8 sn I will give you the nations. The Lord promises the Davidic king universal dominion.
  2. Psalm 2:9 tc The LXX reads “you will shepherd them.” This reading, quoted in the Greek text of the NT in Rev 2:27; 12:5; 19:15, assumes a different vocalization of the consonantal Hebrew text and understands the verb as רָעָה (raʿah, “to shepherd”) rather than רָעָע (raʿaʿ, “to break”). But the presence of נָפַץ (nafats, “to smash”) in the next line strongly favors the MT vocalization.
  3. Psalm 2:9 tn The Hebrew term שֵׁבֶט (shevet) can refer to a “staff” or “rod,” but here it probably refers to the Davidic king’s royal scepter, symbolizing his sovereignty.
  4. Psalm 2:9 sn Like a potters jar. Before the Davidic king’s awesome power, the rebellious nations are like fragile pottery.
  5. Psalm 2:10 sn The speaker here is either the psalmist or the Davidic king, who now addresses the rebellious kings.
  6. Psalm 2:10 tn The Niphal has here a tolerative nuance; the kings are urged to submit themselves to the advice being offered.

Ask me,
    and I will make the nations(A) your inheritance,(B)
    the ends of the earth(C) your possession.
You will break them with a rod of iron[a];(D)
    you will dash them to pieces(E) like pottery.(F)

10 Therefore, you kings, be wise;(G)
    be warned, you rulers(H) of the earth.

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 2:9 Or will rule them with an iron scepter (see Septuagint and Syriac)