Bible / Psalms
Psalm 2
World English Bible, Catholic edition, in plain modern English. About the translations
Douay-Rheims Bible, Challoner revision, the traditional Catholic English Bible. About the translations
1 Why do the nations rage, and the peoples plot a vain thing?
2 The kings of the earth take a stand, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his Anointed, saying,
3 “Let’s break their bonds apart, and cast their cords from us.”
4 He who sits in the heavens will laugh. The Lord will have them in derision.
5 Then he will speak to them in his anger, and terrify them in his wrath:
6 “Yet I have set my King on my holy hill of Zion.”
7 I will tell of the decree: The LORD said to me, “You are my son. Today I have become your father.
8 Ask of me, and I will give the nations for your inheritance, the uttermost parts of the earth for your possession.
9 You shall break them with a rod of iron. You shall dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.”
10 Now therefore be wise, you kings. Be instructed, you judges of the earth.
11 Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.
12 Give sincere homage to the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish on the way, for his wrath will soon be kindled. Blessed are all those who take refuge in him.
1 Why have the Gentiles raged, and the people devised vain things?
2 The kings of the earth stood up, and the princes met together, against the Lord, and against his Christ.
3 Let us break their bonds asunder: and let us cast away their yoke from us.
4 He that dwelleth in heaven shall laugh at them: and the Lord shall deride them.
5 Then shall he speak to them in his anger, and trouble them in his rage.
6 But I am appointed king by him over Sion, his holy mountain, preaching his commandment.
7 The Lord hath said to me: Thou art my son, this day have I begotten thee.
8 Ask of me, and I will give thee the Gentiles for thy inheritance, and the utmost parts of the earth for thy possession.
9 Thou shalt rule them with a rod of iron, and shalt break them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.
10 And now, O ye kings, understand: receive instruction, you that judge the earth.
11 Serve ye the Lord with fear: and rejoice unto him with trembling.
12 Embrace discipline, lest at any time the Lord be angry, and you perish from the just way.
13 When his wrath shall be kindled in a short time, blessed are all they that trust in him.
This chapter in the Catechism and the early Church
Where the Catechism of the Catholic Church cites these verses (from its footnotes on vatican.va), and where the earliest Church Fathers quote them (Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1, public domain). Short quotes only; follow the links for the full text. The Catechism uses modern verse numbers and psalm numbers (one higher than Douay-Rheims for most psalms), so these are listed by chapter.
- Psalm 2:1 in modern BiblesCCC 600
Read the Catechism
- CCC 600 “To God, all moments of time are present in their immediacy. When therefore he establishes his eternal plan of "predestination", he includes…”
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Read the Catechism and Fathers
- CCC 441 “In the Old Testament, "son of God" is a title given to the angels, the Chosen People, the children of Israel, and…”
- CCC 653 “The truth of Jesus' divinity is confirmed by his Resurrection. He had said: "When you have lifted up the Son of man,…”
- CCC 2606 “All the troubles, for all time, of humanity enslaved by sin and death, all the petitions and intercessions of salvation history are…”
- CCC 2836 “This day" is also an expression of trust taught us by the Lord, which we would never have presumed to invent. Since…”
“Ask of Me, and I will give Thee the heathen for Thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for Thy possession.”
Quoted in First Letter to the Corinthians, St. Clement of Rome (c. AD 96), Chapter XXXVI. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
“… the form of a dove, and there came at the same instant from the heavens a voice, which was uttered also by David when he spoke, personating Christ, what the Father would say to Him: Thou art My Son: this day have I begotten Thee;”
Quoted in Dialogue with Trypho, St. Justin Martyr (c. AD 160), Chapter LXXXVIII. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
“For this devil, when [Jesus] went up from the river Jordan, at the time when the voice spake to Him, Thou art my Son: this day have I begotten Thee,”
Quoted in Dialogue with Trypho, St. Justin Martyr (c. AD 160), Chapter CIII. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
- Psalm 2:8 in modern BiblesCCC 2606
Read the Catechism and Fathers
- CCC 2606 “All the troubles, for all time, of humanity enslaved by sin and death, all the petitions and intercessions of salvation history are…”
“Ask of Me, and I will give Thee the heathen for Thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for Thy possession.”
Quoted in First Letter to the Corinthians, St. Clement of Rome (c. AD 96), Chapter XXXVI. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
“… Christ are human beings, who from various and diverse nations come together into one cohort of faith, as the Father promised Him, saying, "Ask of Me, and I will give Thee the heathen for Thine inheritance, the uttermost parts of the earth for Thy possession.”
Quoted in Against Heresies, Book IV, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter XXI. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1