Alternate Nativities: A Coronation Psalm

₁ Why do nations rage

                and empires number their peoples?

₂ Why do kings of the land take their stand
                with princes in common cause
                against YHWH and his anointed?

₃ “Let us kill their children
                and murder their sons.”

₄ The One enthroned in heaven laughs;
                YHWH makes sport of their plans.
₅ He causes his servants to flee
                and their escape is his deep pleasure.
₆ But I have been anointed as his king
                even before the foundation of his holy Mount Zion.
₇ Let me recite the decree of YHWH,
                He said to me:
                “You are my son
                and in you I am well pleased;
                this day I have begotten you.
₈ Ask wealth of me and I will give it,
                the kingdoms of the world are yours
                and their glory your inheritance.

₉ You will rule them with an iron rod
                they will be dashed to pieces like the potter’s vessel.”

₁₀ Now then, O kings, be wise;
                take warning, you rulers of the land.
₁₁ Serve YHWH with reverence,
                and rejoice with trembling.

₁₂ Kiss the Son, lest he be angry
                and your assembly perish
                for his anger is quickly kindled,
                but how blessed are all those who trust in him.

This is number 7 in a series of Alternate Nativities - the series began with the recognition that the 2 gospel accounts of Jesus' birth are mutually incompatible in their details, and with the question, "What might the nativity story have looked like if it had been written in other styles?"  

This particular alternate nativity is based on Psalm 2 - with significant thanks to Mitchel Dahood's translation (Mitchel Dahood, Psalms 1- 50: Introduction, Translation, and Notes, Doubleday and Co. Inc, Garden City, NY, 1966)