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A Psalm of Asaph

Asking God for Justice

82 God takes his stand in the divine assembly;
    among the divine[a] beings[b] he renders judgment:

“How long will you judge partially
    by showing favor on the wicked?[c]
Interlude

“Defend the poor and the fatherless.
    Vindicate the afflicted and the poor.
Rescue the poor and the needy,
    delivering them from the power of the wicked.
They neither know nor understand;
    they walk about in the dark
        while all the foundations of the earth are shaken.

“Indeed I said, ‘You are gods,
    and all of you are sons of the Most High.
However, as all human beings do, you will die,
    and like other rulers, you will fall.’
Arise, God, to judge the earth,
    for all nations belong to you.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 82:1 Or angelic
  2. Psalm 82:1 Or the gods
  3. Psalm 82:2 Lit. you lift the face

Psalm 82

A psalm of Asaph.

God presides in the great assembly;
    he renders judgment(A) among the “gods”:(B)

“How long will you[a] defend the unjust
    and show partiality(C) to the wicked?[b](D)
Defend the weak and the fatherless;(E)
    uphold the cause of the poor(F) and the oppressed.
Rescue the weak and the needy;
    deliver them from the hand of the wicked.

“The ‘gods’ know nothing, they understand nothing.(G)
    They walk about in darkness;(H)
    all the foundations(I) of the earth are shaken.

“I said, ‘You are “gods”;(J)
    you are all sons of the Most High.’
But you will die(K) like mere mortals;
    you will fall like every other ruler.”

Rise up,(L) O God, judge(M) the earth,
    for all the nations are your inheritance.(N)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 82:2 The Hebrew is plural.
  2. Psalm 82:2 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.

82 God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods.

How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked? Selah.

Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy.

Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked.

They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course.

I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.

But ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes.

Arise, O God, judge the earth: for thou shalt inherit all nations.