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82 God stands up to open heaven’s court. He pronounces judgment on the judges.[a] How long will you judges refuse to listen to the evidence? How long will you shower special favors on the wicked? Give fair judgment to the poor man, the afflicted, the fatherless, the destitute. Rescue the poor and helpless from the grasp of evil men. But you are so foolish and so ignorant! Because you are in darkness, all the foundations of society[b] are shaken to the core. I have called you all “gods” and “sons of the Most High.” But in death you are mere men. You will fall as any prince—for all must die.

Stand up, O God, and judge the earth. For all of it belongs to you. All nations are in your hands.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 82:1 He pronounces judgment on the judges, implied in vv. 2-4, 6; literally, “He judges among the gods.”
  2. Psalm 82:5 of society, literally, “of the earth.”

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.