Now therefore, be wise, O kings; Be instructed, you judges of the earth.
Parallel translations
- WEB Now therefore be wise, you kings. Be instructed, you judges of the earth.
- KJV Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth.
- BSB Therefore be wise, O kings; be admonished, O judges of the earth.
- NASB ¶Now then, you kings, use insight; Let yourselves be instructed, you judges of the earth.
- NLT Now then, you kings, act wisely! Be warned, you rulers of the earth!
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The psalm now urges earthly rulers to be wise and accept correction. The proper response to God's King is humble submission.
Overview
Having displayed the King's power, the psalm turns to appeal: the kings and judges who plotted are summoned to wisdom. True wisdom begins with the fear of the Lord and bows before His Anointed. This is a gracious invitation, showing that even rebels are called to repent and submit to Christ while there is time.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- Hos 14:9Who is wise, that he may understand these things? Who is prudent, that he may know them? For the ways of Yahweh are right, and the righteous walk in them; But the rebellious stumble in them.
- Isa 60:10–11“Foreigners will build up your walls, and their kings will serve you: for in my wrath I struck you, but in my favor I have had mercy on you.
- Isa 60:3Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.
- Ps 82:1–8A Psalm by Asaph. God presides in the great assembly. He judges among the gods.
- Ps 72:10–11The kings of Tarshish and of the islands will bring tribute. The kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts.
- Ps 45:12The daughter of Tyre comes with a gift. The rich among the people entreat your favor.
- Jer 6:8Be instructed, Jerusalem, lest my soul be alienated from you; lest I make you a desolation, a land not inhabited.”
- Isa 49:23Kings shall be your foster fathers, and their queens your nursing mothers. They will bow down to you with their faces to the earth, and lick the dust of your feet; Then you will know that I am Yahweh; and those who wait for me shall not be disappointed.”
- Isa 52:15so he will cleanse many nations. Kings will shut their mouths at him: for they will see that which had not been told them; and they will understand that which they had not heard.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
The Psalms are Christ's own prayer book and a gallery of his portraits — the suffering one of Psalm 22, the risen Lord of Psalm 16, the priest-king of Psalm 110, the Son to whom the nations are given.
How Psalms 2:10 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.