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:
“How long will you judge unjustly
    and (F)show partiality to (G)the wicked? Selah
(H)Give justice to (I)the weak and the fatherless;
    (J)maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute.
(K)Rescue the weak and the needy;
    (L)deliver them from the hand of the wicked.”

(M)They have neither knowledge nor understanding,
    (N)they walk about in darkness;
    (O)all the foundations of the earth are (P)shaken.

(Q)I said, “You are gods,
    sons of the Most High, all of you;
nevertheless, like men (R)you shall die,
    and fall like any prince.”[a]

(S)Arise, O God, judge the earth;
    for you shall (T)inherit all the nations!

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 82:7 Or fall as one man, O princes

Psalm 82

A psalm of Asaph.

82 God takes his stand in the divine council;
    he gives judgment among the gods:
“How long will you judge unjustly
    by granting favor to the wicked? Selah
Give justice to the lowly and the orphan;
    maintain the right of the poor and the destitute!
Rescue the lowly and the needy.
    Deliver them from the power of the wicked!

They don’t know; they don’t understand;
    they wander around in the dark.
    All the earth’s foundations shake.

    I hereby declare, “You are gods,
    children of the Most High—all of you!
But you will die like mortals;
    you will fall down like any prince.”

Rise up, God! Judge the earth
    because you hold all nations in your possession!