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Psalm 82

A psalm of Asaph.

God presides over heaven’s court;
    he pronounces judgment on the heavenly beings:
“How long will you hand down unjust decisions
    by favoring the wicked? Interlude

“Give justice to the poor and the orphan;
    uphold the rights of the oppressed and the destitute.
Rescue the poor and helpless;
    deliver them from the grasp of evil people.
But these oppressors know nothing;
    they are so ignorant!
They wander about in darkness,
    while the whole world is shaken to the core.
I say, ‘You are gods;
    you are all children of the Most High.
But you will die like mere mortals
    and fall like every other ruler.’”

Rise up, O God, and judge the earth,
    for all the nations belong to you.

Psalm 82

A Plea for Righteous Judgment

A psalm of Asaph.(A)

God stands in the divine assembly;
he pronounces judgment among the gods:[a](B)
“How long will you judge unjustly
and show partiality to the wicked?(C)Selah
Provide justice for the needy and the fatherless;
uphold the rights of the oppressed and the destitute.(D)
Rescue the poor and needy;
save them from the power of the wicked.”(E)

They do not know or understand;
they wander in darkness.(F)
All the foundations of the earth are shaken.(G)

I said, “You are gods;(H)
you are all sons of the Most High.(I)
However, you will die like humans
and fall like any other ruler.”(J)

Rise up, God, judge the earth,
for all the nations belong to you.(K)

Footnotes

  1. 82:1 Or the heavenly beings, or the earthly rulers; Hb elohim