Psalm 2:10
New International Version
Therefore, you kings, be wise; be warned, you rulers of the earth.

New Living Translation
Now then, you kings, act wisely! Be warned, you rulers of the earth!

English Standard Version
Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth.

Berean Standard Bible
Therefore be wise, O kings; be admonished, O judges of the earth.

King James Bible
Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth.

New King James Version
Now therefore, be wise, O kings; Be instructed, you judges of the earth.

New American Standard Bible
Now then, you kings, use insight; Let yourselves be instructed, you judges of the earth.

NASB 1995
Now therefore, O kings, show discernment; Take warning, O judges of the earth.

NASB 1977
Now therefore, O kings, show discernment; Take warning, O judges of the earth.

Legacy Standard Bible
So now, O kings, show insight; Take warning, O judges of the earth.

Amplified Bible
Now therefore, O kings, act wisely; Be instructed and take warning, O leaders (judges, rulers) of the earth.

Christian Standard Bible
So now, kings, be wise; receive instruction, you judges of the earth.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
So now, kings, be wise; receive instruction, you judges of the earth.

American Standard Version
Now therefore be wise, O ye kings: Be instructed, ye judges of the earth.

Contemporary English Version
Be smart, all you rulers, and pay close attention.

English Revised Version
Now therefore be wise, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Now, you kings, act wisely. Be warned, you rulers of the earth!

Good News Translation
Now listen to this warning, you kings; learn this lesson, you rulers of the world:

International Standard Version
Therefore, kings, act wisely! Earthly rulers, be warned!

Majority Standard Bible
Therefore be wise, O kings; be admonished, O judges of the earth.

NET Bible
So now, you kings, do what is wise; you rulers of the earth, submit to correction!

New Heart English Bible
Now therefore, you kings, be wise; receive correction, you judges of the earth.

Webster's Bible Translation
Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth.

World English Bible
Now therefore be wise, you kings. Be instructed, you judges of the earth.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And now, O kings, act wisely, "" Be instructed, O judges of earth,

Young's Literal Translation
And now, O kings, act wisely, Be instructed, O judges of earth,

Smith's Literal Translation
And now be circumspect, ye and be silent Silence.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And now, O ye kings, understand: receive instruction, you that judge the earth.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And now, O kings, understand. Receive instruction, you who judge the earth.

New American Bible
And now, kings, give heed; take warning, judges on earth.

New Revised Standard Version
Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Be wise now, therefore, O kings; be instructed, O judges of the earth.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Now, kings, be wise, and be instructed, Judges of Earth.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Now therefore, O ye kings, be wise; Be admonished, ye judges of the earth.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Now therefore understand, ye kings: be instructed, all ye that judge the earth.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Triumphant Messiah
9You will break them with an iron scepter; You will shatter them like pottery.” 10Therefore be wise, O kings; be admonished, O judges of the earth. 11Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.…

Cross References
Proverbs 8:15-16
By me kings reign, and rulers enact just laws; / By me princes rule, and all nobles who govern justly.

Daniel 2:21
He changes the times and seasons; He removes kings and establishes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.

Romans 13:1-4
Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which is from God. The authorities that exist have been appointed by God. / Consequently, whoever resists authority is opposing what God has set in place, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. / For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Do you want to be unafraid of the one in authority? Then do what is right, and you will have his approval. ...

1 Timothy 2:1-2
First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving be offered for everyone— / for kings and all those in authority—so that we may lead tranquil and quiet lives in all godliness and dignity.

Isaiah 52:15
so He will sprinkle many nations. Kings will shut their mouths because of Him. For they will see what they have not been told, and they will understand what they have not heard.

Jeremiah 18:7-10
At any time I might announce that a nation or kingdom will be uprooted, torn down, and destroyed. / But if that nation I warned turns from its evil, then I will relent of the disaster I had planned to bring. / And if at another time I announce that I will build up and establish a nation or kingdom, ...

1 Peter 2:13-14
Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to the king as the supreme authority, / or to governors as those sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right.

Revelation 1:5
and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and has released us from our sins by His blood,

Isaiah 49:23
Kings will be your foster fathers, and their queens your nursing mothers. They will bow to you facedown and lick the dust at your feet. Then you will know that I am the LORD; those who hope in Me will never be put to shame.”

Daniel 4:17
This decision is the decree of the watchers, the verdict declared by the holy ones, so that the living will know that the Most High rules over the kingdom of mankind and gives it to whom He wishes, setting over it the lowliest of men.’

Matthew 28:18
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.

Acts 4:25-28
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.’ / In fact, this is the very city where Herod and Pontius Pilate conspired with the Gentiles and the people of Israel against Your holy servant Jesus, whom You anointed. ...

Revelation 19:16
And He has a name written on His robe and on His thigh: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

Proverbs 16:12
Wicked behavior is detestable for kings, for a throne is established through righteousness.

Isaiah 60:12
For the nation or kingdom that will not serve you will perish; it will be utterly destroyed.


Treasury of Scripture

Be wise now therefore, O you kings: be instructed, you judges of the earth.

Be wise

Jeremiah 6:8
Be thou instructed, O Jerusalem, lest my soul depart from thee; lest I make thee desolate, a land not inhabited.

Hosea 14:9
Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the LORD are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein.

O

Psalm 45:12
And the daughter of Tyre shall be there with a gift; even the rich among the people shall intreat thy favour.

Psalm 72:10,11
The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents: the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts…

Isaiah 49:23
And kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and their queens thy nursing mothers: they shall bow down to thee with their face toward the earth, and lick up the dust of thy feet; and thou shalt know that I am the LORD: for they shall not be ashamed that wait for me.

be instructed

Psalm 82:1-8
A Psalm of Asaph. God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods…

Jump to Previous
Act Admonished Discernment Earth Instructed Judges Kings Rulers Show Teaching Warned Warning Wise Wisely
Jump to Next
Act Admonished Discernment Earth Instructed Judges Kings Rulers Show Teaching Warned Warning Wise Wisely
Psalm 2
1. The kingdom of Christ
10. Kings are exhorted to accept it














Therefore
This word serves as a conclusion or a call to action based on the preceding verses. In the context of Psalm 2, it follows a depiction of the rebellion of nations against God and His Anointed One. The Hebrew word used here is "וְעַתָּה" (ve'atah), which implies a transition from the rebellious actions of the nations to a call for wisdom and submission. It suggests that the following advice is a direct response to the futility of opposing God's sovereign plan.

be wise
The Hebrew word for "be wise" is "הַשְׂכִּילוּ" (haskilu), which implies not just intellectual understanding but practical application of knowledge. Wisdom in the biblical sense is often associated with the fear of the Lord (Proverbs 9:10). Here, it is a call for the rulers to recognize God's authority and align themselves with His will. This wisdom is not merely human insight but a divine perspective that acknowledges God's ultimate sovereignty.

O kings
The term "kings" refers to the rulers and leaders of nations. In the ancient Near Eastern context, kings were seen as the ultimate authority in their realms. However, this verse reminds them that their power is subordinate to God's. Historically, kings were often seen as divine or semi-divine figures, but the psalmist calls them to humility and recognition of the true King of Kings.

be admonished
The Hebrew word "הִוָּסְרוּ" (hivasru) means to be instructed or corrected. It carries the connotation of receiving guidance or discipline. This is a call for the rulers to heed the warning and instruction from God. In a broader biblical context, admonition is often associated with repentance and turning away from sin. It is an invitation to change course and align with God's righteous standards.

O judges of the earth
The "judges" here are those who have the authority to make decisions and enforce laws. In ancient Israel, judges were leaders who were expected to uphold justice and righteousness. The phrase "of the earth" emphasizes the global scope of God's authority and the universal call for all leaders to submit to His rule. It underscores the accountability of earthly judges to the ultimate Judge, God Himself.

Verse 10. - Be wise now therefore, O ye kings. The remainder of the psalm contains the advice of the psalmist to the rebels of vers. 1-3, and to all who may be inclined to imitate them. "Be wise," he says," be prudent. For your own sakes desist from attempts at rebellion. Jehovah and Messiah are irresistible. Ye will find it "hard to kick against the pricks.'" Be instructed, ye judges of the earth. "Be taught," i.e., "by experience, if ye are not wise enough to know beforehand, that opposition to God is futile." Compare the advice of Gamaliel (Acts 5:38, 39).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Therefore
וְ֭עַתָּה (wə·‘at·tāh)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb
Strong's 6258: At this time

be wise,
הַשְׂכִּ֑ילוּ (haś·kî·lū)
Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 7919: To be, circumspect, intelligent

O kings;
מְלָכִ֣ים (mə·lā·ḵîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 4428: A king

be admonished,
הִ֝וָּסְר֗וּ (hiw·wā·sə·rū)
Verb - Nifal - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 3256: To discipline, chasten, admonish

O judges
שֹׁ֣פְטֵי (šō·p̄ə·ṭê)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct
Strong's 8199: To judge, pronounce sentence, to vindicate, punish, to govern, to litigate

of the earth.
אָֽרֶץ׃ (’ā·reṣ)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land


Links
Psalm 2:10 NIV
Psalm 2:10 NLT
Psalm 2:10 ESV
Psalm 2:10 NASB
Psalm 2:10 KJV

Psalm 2:10 BibleApps.com
Psalm 2:10 Biblia Paralela
Psalm 2:10 Chinese Bible
Psalm 2:10 French Bible
Psalm 2:10 Catholic Bible

OT Poetry: Psalm 2:10 Now therefore be wise you kings (Psalm Ps Psa.)
Psalm 2:9
Top of Page
Top of Page