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82 A canticle of a psalm for Asaph.

O God, who shall be like to thee? hold not thy peace, neither be thou still, O God.

For lo, thy enemies have made a noise: and they that hate thee have lifted up the head.

They have taken a malicious counsel against thy people, and have consulted against thy saints.

They have said: Come and let us destroy them, so that they be not a nation: and let the name of Israel be remembered no more.

For they have contrived with one consent: they have made a covenant together against thee,

The tabernacles of the Edomites, and the Ismahelites: Moab, and the Agarens,

Gebal, and Ammon and Amalec: the Philistines, with the inhabitants of Tyre.

Yea, and the Assyrian also is joined with them: they are come to the aid of the sons of Lot.

10 Do to them as thou didst to Madian and to Sisara: as to Jabin at the brook of Cisson.

11 Who perished at Endor: and became as dung for the earth.

12 Make their princes like Oreb, and Zeb, and Zebee, and Salmana. All their princes,

13 Who have said: Let us possess the sanctuary of God for an inheritance.

14 O my God, make them like a wheel; and as stubble before the wind.

15 As fire which burneth the wood: and as a flame burning mountains:

16 So shalt thou pursue them with thy tempest: and shalt trouble them in thy wrath.

17 Fill their faces with shame; and they shall seek thy name, O Lord.

18 Let them be ashamed and troubled for ever and ever: and let them be confounded and perish.

19 And let them know that the Lord is thy name: thou alone art the most High over all the earth.

A Plea for Righteous Judgement

A psalm of Asaph.(A)

82 God stands in the divine assembly;
he pronounces judgement 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

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 Een psalm van Asaf.

God staat te midden van de bijeenkomst van de goden,
Hij treedt in hun midden als rechter op.
Het lijkt wel of U de ongelovigen recht verschaft
en ons niet. Hoelang moet dat nog duren?
Spreek uw oordeel uit over armen en wezen,
laat het recht zegevieren voor de armzaligen
en hen die niets hebben.
Bevrijd de man die wordt vernederd en de arme,
red hen uit de handen van de misdadigers.
Zij zijn dom en kunnen niets vatten,
zij lopen in het donker en de aarde wankelt onder uw voeten.
Toch heb Ik gezegd:
‘U bent goden, kinderen van de Allerhoogste, allemaal.’
Net als andere mensen zullen zij sterven
en vallen als overwonnen koningen.
Kom, God, spreek recht over de aarde.
Alle volken zijn immers van U?