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A psalm of Asaph.

82 God takes his place at the head of a large gathering of leaders.
    He announces his decisions among them.

He says, “How long will you stand up for those who aren’t fair to others?
    How long will you show mercy to sinful people?
Stand up for the weak and for children whose fathers have died.
    Protect the rights of people who are poor or treated badly.
Save those who are weak and needy.
    Save them from the power of sinful people.

“You leaders don’t know anything.
    You don’t understand anything.
You are in the dark about what is right.
    Law and order have been destroyed all over the world.

“I said, ‘You leaders are like gods.
    You are all children of the Most High God.’
But you will die, like mere human beings.
    You will die like every other leader.”

God, rise up. Judge the earth.
    All the nations belong to you.

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 God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods.

How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked? Selah.

Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy.

Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked.

They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course.

I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.

But ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes.

Arise, O God, judge the earth: for thou shalt inherit all nations.