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God Commands Justice

A psalm of Asaph.[a]

82 God stands in the divine assembly;[b]
he administers judgment in the midst of the gods.[c]
“How long will you judge unjustly
and show favoritism to the wicked?[d] Selah
Judge on behalf of the helpless and the orphan;
provide justice to the afflicted and the poor.
Rescue the helpless and the needy;
deliver them from the hand of the wicked.”
They do not know or consider.[e]
They go about in the darkness,
so that all the foundations of the earth are shaken.
I have said,[f] “You are gods,
and sons of the Most High, all of you.
However, you will die like men,[g]
and you will fall like one of the princes.”
Rise up, O God, judge the earth,
because you shall inherit[h] all the nations.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 82:1 The Hebrew Bible counts the superscription as the first verse of the psalm
  2. Psalm 82:1 Or “assembly of El
  3. Psalm 82:1 Hebrew elohim
  4. Psalm 82:2 Literally “lift up the faces of the wicked”
  5. Psalm 82:5 Or “understand”
  6. Psalm 82:6 Hebrew “I, I have said”
  7. Psalm 82:7 Singular
  8. Psalm 82:8 Or “receive an inheritance”

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