Lectionary Calendar
Tuesday, October 8th, 2024
the Week of Proper 22 / Ordinary 27
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Read the Bible

King James Version

Psalms 2:10

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

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Jesus, the Christ;   Rulers;   Wisdom;   Scofield Reference Index - Christ;   Faith;   Kingdom;   Sacrifice;   Thompson Chain Reference - Duty;   King;   Kings, Duties of;   Magistrates;   Nation, the;   Ruler's Duty;   Rulers;   The Topic Concordance - Government;   Jesus Christ;   Wrath;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Kings;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Poetry of the Hebrews;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Christ, Christology;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Judgments of God;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Jesus Christ;   Messiah;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - English Versions;   Judges;   Kingdom of God;   Messiah;   Person of Christ;   Prophecy, Prophets;   Psalms;   Sin;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Kingdom of christ of heaven;   Kingdom of god;   Kingdom of heaven;   Messiah;   Psalms the book of;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Accommodation;   Asunder;   Bible, the;   Christ, Offices of;   Haggai;   Jesus Christ (Part 1 of 2);   King, Christ as;   Names, Proper;   Psalms, Book of;   Reform;   Text of the Old Testament;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - ḥaber;  

Parallel Translations

Legacy Standard Bible
So now, O kings, show insight;Take warning, O judges of the earth.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Now therefore, O kings, show discernment; Take warning, O judges of the earth.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Wherfore be you nowe wel aduised O ye kinges: be you learned ye [that are] iudges of the earth.
Darby Translation
And now, O kings, be ye wise, be admonished, ye judges of the earth.
New King James Version
Now therefore, be wise, O kings; Be instructed, you judges of the earth.
Literal Translation
Now, then, be wise, O kings; be taught, O judges of the earth:
Easy-to-Read Version
So, kings and rulers, be smart and learn this lesson.
World English Bible
Now therefore be wise, you kings. Be instructed, you judges of the earth.
King James Version (1611)
Bee wise now therefore, O yee Kings: be instructed ye Iudges of the earth.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Be wyse now therfore (o ye kynges) be warned, ye that are iudges of the earth.
THE MESSAGE
So, rebel-kings, use your heads; Upstart-judges, learn your lesson: Worship God in adoring embrace, Celebrate in trembling awe. Kiss Messiah! Your very lives are in danger, you know; His anger is about to explode, But if you make a run for God—you won't regret it!
American Standard Version
Now therefore be wise, O ye kings: Be instructed, ye judges of the earth.
Bible in Basic English
So now be wise, you kings: take his teaching, you judges of the earth.
Update Bible Version
Now therefore you kings, be wise; Be instructed, you judges of the earth.
Webster's Bible Translation
Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth.
New English Translation
So now, you kings, do what is wise; you rulers of the earth, submit to correction!
Contemporary English Version
Be smart, all you rulers, and pay close attention.
Complete Jewish Bible
Therefore, kings, be wise; be warned, you judges of the earth.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Be wise nowe therefore, ye Kings: be learned ye Iudges of the earth.
George Lamsa Translation
Be wise now, therefore, O kings; be instructed, 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.
Hebrew Names Version
Now therefore be wise, you kings. Be instructed, you judges of the eretz.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
Now therefore, O ye kings, be wise; be admonished, ye judges of the earth.
New Living Translation
Now then, you kings, act wisely! Be warned, you rulers of the earth!
New Life Bible
So, kings, be wise. Listen, you rulers of the earth.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
Now therefore understand, ye kings: be instructed, all ye that judge the earth.
English Revised Version
Now therefore be wise, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth.
Berean Standard Bible
Therefore be wise, O kings; be admonished, O judges of the earth.
New Revised Standard
Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Now, therefore, ye kings, show your prudence, Be admonished, ye judges of earth:
Douay-Rheims Bible
And now, O ye kings, understand: receive instruction, you that judge the earth.
Lexham English Bible
So then, O kings, be wise. Be warned, O rulers of the earth.
English Standard Version
Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth.
New American Standard Bible
Now then, you kings, use insight; Let yourselves be instructed, you judges of the earth.
New Century Version
So, kings, be wise; rulers, learn this lesson.
Good News Translation
Now listen to this warning, you kings; learn this lesson, you rulers of the world:
Christian Standard Bible®
So now, kings, be wise; receive instruction, you judges of the earth.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And now, ye kyngis, vndurstonde; ye that demen the erthe, be lerud.
Young's Literal Translation
And now, O kings, act wisely, Be instructed, O judges of earth,
Revised Standard Version
Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth.

Contextual Overview

10 Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. 11 Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. 12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Be wise: Jeremiah 6:8, Hosea 14:9

O: Psalms 45:12, Psalms 72:10, Psalms 72:11, Isaiah 49:23, Isaiah 52:15, Isaiah 60:3, Isaiah 60:10, Isaiah 60:11

be instructed: Psalms 82:1-8

Reciprocal: Judges 5:3 - O ye kings 1 Samuel 15:1 - hearken 2 Chronicles 23:11 - the testimony 2 Chronicles 24:23 - princes Psalms 2:2 - kings Psalms 29:1 - Give Psalms 66:7 - let Psalms 76:12 - He shall Psalms 89:27 - higher Psalms 148:11 - Kings Isaiah 49:7 - Kings Jeremiah 19:3 - Hear Daniel 2:47 - a Lord Daniel 9:12 - our judges Jonah 3:6 - and he arose Revelation 6:15 - the kings Revelation 12:5 - rule

Cross-References

Psalms 46:4
There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.
Revelation 22:1
And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Be wise now therefore, O ye kings,.... This address is made not so much to the kings of the earth in David's time, as to those who would be under the Gospel dispensation, and times of the Messiah; and particularly who would rise up, and set themselves against the Lord and his Anointed, Psalms 2:2; and with these are to be understood their subjects: for if they are to serve the Lord, and be subject to Christ, then much more those that are under them; and they are rather spoken to particularly, because their examples have great influence on those over whom they rule, whether for good or evil these are exhorted to be wise, or to act the wise part; for great men are not always wise; wisdom, riches, and honour, do not always go together; men may be in high places, and yet be of low understandings; however, they do not always act wisely, and particularly those kings did not, when they rose up and set themselves against the Lord and his Messiah; since such opposition must be fruitless, nor is there any counsel against the Lord. And we learn, from the connection of these words with the following, that the truest wisdom in kings and people is to fear God, be subject to Christ, and trust in him. The words are an inference from what goes before; "therefore", since Christ is set as King over Zion, and he is no other than the Son of God, and who has a power over all flesh; one part of the world is his inheritance and possession, and the other part he will in a little time break and dash to pieces; wherefore "now", under the Gospel dispensation, while it is today, and now is the accepted time and day of salvation, before the blow is given; act the wise part and leave off opposing, and become subject to so great and powerful a King;

be instructed, ye judges of the earth; who are under kings, being appointed by them to hear causes and minister justice; they answer to the sanhedrim of the Jews; to the rulers in Psalms 2:2. These are exhorted to receive instructions, not in things political and civil they may be well acquainted with; but in things religious and evangelical, in the worship of God, in the Gospel of Christ, and in his ordinances; for persons in such posts should not be above instruction in these things. The word may be rendered, "be ye chastised" or "corrected" i; that is, suffer reproof, correction, and chastisement at the hand of God, whether by words or deeds; submit to it patiently, and receive instruction from it: for God sometimes reproves kings and princes of the earth, on account of their sins, and for the sake of his people, when they should learn righteousness; see Psalms 105:14.

i הוסרו "castigamini", Piscator; so Ainsworth; "corrigimini", Castalio, Gejerus, Michaelis.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Be wise now, therefore, O ye kings - This is to be understood as the language of the psalmist. See introduction to the psalm, Section 3. It is an exhortation addressed to the rulers and princes whom the psalmist saw engaged in opposition to the purpose of Yahweh Psalms 2:1-3 - and hence, to all rulers and princes - to act the part of wisdom, by not attempting to resist the plans of God, but to submit to him, and secure his friendship. The psalmist cautions them to take warning, in view of what must certainly come upon the enemies of the Messiah; to cease their vain attempts to oppose his reign, and, by a timely submission to him, to ensure his friendship, and to escape the doom that must come upon his foes. The way of wisdom, then, was not to engage in an attempt in which they must certainly be crushed, but to secure at once the friendship of one appointed by God to reign over the earth.

Be instructed - In your duty to Yahweh and his Anointed One; that is, in the duty of submitting to this arrangement, and lending your influence to promote it. The word used here, and rendered “be instructed,” means properly to chastise, chasten, correct; and it here means, be admonished, exhorted, or warned. Compare Proverbs 9:7; Job 4:3; Psalms 16:7.

Ye judges of the earth - Ye who administer justice; that is, ye rulers. This was formerly done by kings themselves, as it is now supposed to be in monarchical governments, where the judges act in the name of the king. In Republics, justice is supposed to be administered by the people through those whom they have appointed to execute it. The word here is equivalent to rulers, and the call is on those who occupy posts of office and honor not to oppose the purposes of Yahweh, but to bring their influence to the promotion of his designs. At the same time, it cannot be doubted that it is implied that they should seek to be interested personally in his reign.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Psalms 2:10. Be wise - O ye kings — An exhortation of the Gospel to the rulers of all kingdoms, nations, and states, to whom it may be sent. All these should listen to its maxims, be governed by its precepts, and rule their subjects according to its dictates.

Be instructed, ye judges — Rather, Be ye reformed - cast away all your idolatrous maxims; and receive the Gospel as the law, or the basis of the law, of the land.


 
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