Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain? New Living Translation Why are the nations so angry? Why do they waste their time with futile plans? English Standard Version Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? Berean Standard Bible Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? King James Bible Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? New King James Version Why do the nations rage, And the people plot a vain thing? New American Standard Bible Why are the nations restless And the peoples plotting in vain? NASB 1995 Why are the nations in an uproar And the peoples devising a vain thing? NASB 1977 Why are the nations in an uproar, And the peoples devising a vain thing? Legacy Standard Bible Why do the nations rage And the peoples meditate on a vain thing? Amplified Bible Why are the nations in an uproar [in turmoil against God], And why do the people devise a vain and hopeless plot? Christian Standard Bible Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? Holman Christian Standard Bible Why do the nations rebel and the peoples plot in vain? American Standard Version Why do the nations rage, And the peoples meditate a vain thing? Contemporary English Version Why do the nations plot, and why do their people make useless plans? English Revised Version Why do the nations rage, and the peoples imagine a vain thing? GOD'S WORD® Translation Why do the nations gather together? Why do their people devise useless plots? Good News Translation Why do the nations plan rebellion? Why do people make their useless plots? International Standard Version Why are the nations in an uproar, and their people involved in a vain plot? Majority Standard Bible Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? NET Bible Why do the nations rebel? Why are the countries devising plots that will fail? New Heart English Bible Why do the nations rage, and the peoples plot in vain? Webster's Bible Translation Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? World English Bible Why do the nations rage, and the peoples plot a vain thing? Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionWhy have nations assembled tumultuously? And peoples meditate vanity? Young's Literal Translation Why have nations tumultuously assembled? And do peoples meditate vanity? Smith's Literal Translation Wherefore did the nations rage, and the peoples will meditate emptiness? Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleWhy have the Gentiles raged, and the people devised vain things? Catholic Public Domain Version Why have the Gentiles been seething, and why have the people been pondering nonsense? New American Bible Why do the nations protest and the peoples conspire in vain? New Revised Standard Version Why do the nations conspire, and the peoples plot in vain? Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleWHY do the Gentiles rage and the peoples imagine vain things? Peshitta Holy Bible Translated Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot futility? OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Why are the nations in an uproar? And why do the peoples mutter in vain? Brenton Septuagint Translation Wherefore did the heathen rage, and the nations imagine vain things? Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context The Triumphant Messiah1Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? 2The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together, against the LORD and against His Anointed One:… Cross References Acts 4:25-26 You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of Your servant, our father David: ‘Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? / The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against His Anointed One.’ Acts 13:33 He has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising up Jesus. As it is written in the second Psalm: ‘You are My Son; today I have become Your Father.’ Revelation 11:18 The nations were enraged, and Your wrath has come. The time has come to judge the dead and to reward Your servants the prophets, as well as the saints and those who fear Your name, both small and great—and to destroy those who destroy the earth.” Revelation 19:19 Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies assembled to wage war against the One seated on the horse, and against His army. Matthew 27:1 When morning came, all the chief priests and elders of the people conspired against Jesus to put Him to death. John 19:12-15 From then on, Pilate tried to release Him, but the Jews kept shouting, “If you release this man, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who declares himself a king is defying Caesar.” / When Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out and sat on the judgment seat at a place called the Stone Pavement, which in Hebrew is Gabbatha. / It was the day of Preparation for the Passover, about the sixth hour. And Pilate said to the Jews, “Here is your King!” ... Luke 23:11-12 And even Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked Him. Dressing Him in a fine robe, they sent Him back to Pilate. / That day Herod and Pilate became friends; before this time they had been enemies. Mark 15:1 Early in the morning, the chief priests, elders, scribes, and the whole Sanhedrin devised a plan. They bound Jesus, led Him away, and handed Him over to Pilate. John 18:36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world; if it were, My servants would fight to prevent My arrest by the Jews. But now My kingdom is not of this realm.” Acts 17:7 and Jason has welcomed them into his home. They are all defying Caesar’s decrees, saying that there is another king, named Jesus!” Isaiah 8:9-10 Huddle together, O peoples, and be shattered; pay attention, all you distant lands; prepare for battle, and be shattered; prepare for battle, and be shattered! / Devise a plan, but it will be thwarted; state a proposal, but it will not happen. For God is with us.” Isaiah 14:24-27 The LORD of Hosts has sworn: “Surely, as I have planned, so will it be; as I have purposed, so will it stand. / I will break Assyria in My land; I will trample him on My mountain. His yoke will be taken off My people, and his burden removed from their shoulders.” / This is the plan devised for the whole earth, and this is the hand stretched out over all the nations. ... Isaiah 41:5-7 The islands see and fear; the ends of the earth tremble. They approach and come forward. / Each one helps the other and says to his brother, “Be strong!” / The craftsman encourages the goldsmith, and he who wields the hammer cheers him who strikes the anvil, saying of the welding, “It is good.” He nails it down so it will not be toppled. Jeremiah 50:45 Therefore hear the plans that the LORD has drawn up against Babylon and the strategies He has devised against the land of the Chaldeans: Surely the little ones of the flock will be dragged away; certainly their pasture will be made desolate because of them. Ezekiel 38:10-12 This is what the Lord GOD says: On that day, thoughts will arise in your mind, and you will devise an evil plan. / You will say, ‘I will go up against a land of unwalled villages; I will come against a quiet people who dwell securely, all of them living without walls or bars or gates— / in order to seize the spoil and carry off the plunder, to turn a hand against the desolate places now inhabited and against a people gathered from the nations, who have acquired livestock and possessions and who live at the center of the land.’ Treasury of Scripture Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? A. Psalm 18:42 Then did I beat them small as the dust before the wind: I did cast them out as the dirt in the streets. Psalm 46:6 The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted. Psalm 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… rage. Luke 22:1,2,5,22,23 Now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the Passover… Acts 16:22 And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them. Acts 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… people Matthew 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. John 11:49,50 And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all, … Acts 5:33 When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them. imagine. Jump to Previous Agitation Assembled Conspire Devising Foolish Heathen Imagine Meditate Moved Mutter Nations Peoples Plot Rage Thoughts Tumultuous Tumultuously Uproar Vain Vanity ViolentlyJump to Next Agitation Assembled Conspire Devising Foolish Heathen Imagine Meditate Moved Mutter Nations Peoples Plot Rage Thoughts Tumultuous Tumultuously Uproar Vain Vanity ViolentlyPsalm 2 1. The kingdom of Christ10. Kings are exhorted to accept it Why do the nations The phrase "Why do the nations" opens Psalm 2 with a rhetorical question that sets the stage for the entire psalm. The Hebrew word for "nations" is "goyim," which often refers to Gentile nations or peoples outside of Israel. This term is used throughout the Old Testament to describe those who are not part of God's chosen people, Israel. The question implies a sense of incredulity and astonishment at the actions of these nations. Historically, the nations surrounding Israel were often in conflict with God's people, and this verse reflects the ongoing tension between the world and God's divine plan. The psalmist is perplexed by the futility of the nations' rebellion against God, highlighting the ultimate sovereignty of God over all earthly powers. conspire and the peoples plot in vain? Imagine.--Better, meditate, or plan. Literally, as in Psalm 1:2, only here in bad sense, mutter, referring to the whispered treasons passing to and fro among the nations, "a maze of mutter'd threats and mysteries." In old English "imagine" was used in a bad sense; thus Chaucer, "nothing list him to be imaginatif" i.e., suspicious. The verb in this clause, as in the next, is in the present, the change being expressive: Why did they plot? what do they hope to gain by it? Verse 1. - Why do the heathen rage? The psalmist writes with a vision before his eyes. He "sees Jehovah upon his throne, and Messiah entering upon his universal dominion. The enemies of both on earth rise up against them with frantic tumult, and vainly strive to east off the fetters of their rule." Hence his sudden outburst. "What ails the heathen (goim)," he says. "that they rage?" or "make an uproar" (Kay), or "assemble tumultuously" (margin of Authorized Version and Revised,Version)? What are they about? What do they design? And why do the people - rather, the peoples, or "the masses" (Kay) - imagine (or, meditate) a vain thing? It must be "a vain thing;" i.e. a purpose which will come to naught, if it is something opposed to the will of Jehovah and Messiah. The vision shows the psalmist Jew and Gentile banded together against the gospel of Christ. Its scope is not exhausted by the exposition of Acts 4:26, but extends to the whole struggle between Christianity on the one hand, and Judaism and paganism on the other. "The peoples" still to this day "imagine a vain thing" - imagine that Christianity will succumb to the assaults made upon it - will fade, die away, and disappear.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Whyלָ֭מָּה (lām·māh) Interrogative Strong's 4100: What?, what!, indefinitely what do the nations גוֹיִ֑ם (ḡō·w·yim) Noun - masculine plural Strong's 1471: A foreign nation, a Gentile, a troop of animals, a flight of locusts rage רָגְשׁ֣וּ (rā·ḡə·šū) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural Strong's 7283: To be in tumult or commotion and the peoples וּ֝לְאֻמִּ֗ים (ū·lə·’um·mîm) Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural Strong's 3816: A community plot יֶהְגּוּ־ (yeh·gū-) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 1897: To moan, growl, utter, speak, muse in vain? רִֽיק׃ (rîq) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 7385: Emptiness, a worthless thing, in vain Links Psalm 2:1 NIVPsalm 2:1 NLT Psalm 2:1 ESV Psalm 2:1 NASB Psalm 2:1 KJV Psalm 2:1 BibleApps.com Psalm 2:1 Biblia Paralela Psalm 2:1 Chinese Bible Psalm 2:1 French Bible Psalm 2:1 Catholic Bible OT Poetry: Psalm 2:1 Why do the nations rage and (Psalm Ps Psa.) |