Psalms 2:1
Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?
2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying,
3 Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.
This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?
- KJV
- Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?
- WEB
- Why do the nations rage, and the peoples plot a vain thing?
- ASV
- Why do the nations rage, And the peoples meditate a vain thing?
- DARBY
- Why are the nations in tumultuous agitation, and [why] do the peoples meditate a vain thing?
- BLB
- Why do the nations rage, and the peoples plot in vain?
- ÅB
- Hvorfor raser hedningene,
og hvorfor legger folkeslagene håpløse planer? - OTB
- Hvorfor raser folkeslagene,
Og hvorfor planlegger folkene forgjeves planer? - B1930
- Hvorfor larmer hedningene og grunder folkene på det som fåfengt er?
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Acts 4:25–26
Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things?
Read in contextRevelation 17:14
These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.
Read in contextPsalms 46:6
The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted.
Read in contextPsalms 21:11
For they intended evil against thee: they imagined a mischievous device, which they are not able to perform.
Read in contextPsalms 83:4–8
They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance.
Read in contextMatthew 21:38
But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance.
Read in contextActs 17:5–6
But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.
Read in contextLuke 22:22–23
And truly the Son of man goeth, as it was determined: but woe unto that man by whom he is betrayed!
Read in context