Psalm 82
English Standard Version
Rescue the Weak and Needy
A Psalm of (A)Asaph.
82 (B)God (C)has taken his place in the divine council;
in the midst of (D)the gods he (E)holds judgment:
2 “How long will you judge unjustly
and (F)show partiality to (G)the wicked? Selah
3 (H)Give justice to (I)the weak and the fatherless;
(J)maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute.
4 (K)Rescue the weak and the needy;
(L)deliver them from the hand of the wicked.”
5 (M)They have neither knowledge nor understanding,
(N)they walk about in darkness;
(O)all the foundations of the earth are (P)shaken.
6 (Q)I said, “You are gods,
sons of the Most High, all of you;
7 nevertheless, like men (R)you shall die,
and fall like any prince.”[a]
Footnotes
- Psalm 82:7 Or fall as one man, O princes
Psalm 82
Christian Standard Bible
Psalm 82
A Plea for Righteous Judgment
A psalm of Asaph.(A)
1 God stands in the divine assembly;
he pronounces judgment among the gods:[a](B)
2 “How long will you judge unjustly
and show partiality to the wicked?(C)Selah
3 Provide justice for the needy and the fatherless;
uphold the rights of the oppressed and the destitute.(D)
4 Rescue the poor and needy;
save them from the power of the wicked.”(E)
5 They do not know or understand;
they wander in darkness.(F)
All the foundations of the earth are shaken.(G)
6 I said, “You are gods;(H)
you are all sons of the Most High.(I)
7 However, you will die like humans
and fall like any other ruler.”(J)
8 Rise up, God, judge the earth,
for all the nations belong to you.(K)
Footnotes
- 82:1 Or the heavenly beings, or the earthly rulers; Hb elohim
Psalm 82
New American Standard Bible 1995
Unjust Judgments Rebuked.
A Psalm of Asaph.
82 God takes His (A)stand in [a]His own congregation;
He (B)judges in the midst of the [b](C)rulers.
2 How long will you (D)judge unjustly
And (E)show partiality to the wicked? [c]Selah.
3 (F)Vindicate the weak and fatherless;
Do justice to the afflicted and destitute.
4 (G)Rescue the weak and needy;
Deliver them out of the hand of the wicked.
5 They (H)do not know nor do they understand;
They (I)walk about in darkness;
All the (J)foundations of the earth are shaken.
6 [d]I (K)said, “You are gods,
And all of you are (L)sons of the Most High.
7 “Nevertheless (M)you will die like men
And fall like any (N)one of the princes.”
8 (O)Arise, O God, (P)judge the earth!
For it is You who (Q)possesses all the nations.
Footnotes
- Psalm 82:1 Lit the congregation of God
- Psalm 82:1 Lit gods
- Psalm 82:2 Selah may mean: Pause, Crescendo or Musical interlude
- Psalm 82:6 Lit I, on my part
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
