Psalms 82

1 A Psalm of Asaph. God standeth in the congregation of God; in the midst of the judges He judgeth:

God gathers all the [rulers and judges who think they are] gods for a meeting in heaven; and he tells them that he has decided this:

2 'How long will ye judge unjustly, and respect the persons of the wicked? (Selah)

“You must [RHQ] stop judging [people] unfairly; you must no longer make decisions that favor wicked [people]!

3 Judge the poor and fatherless; do justice to the afflicted and destitute.

You must defend [people who are] poor and orphans; you must act fairly toward those who are needy and those who have no one to help them.

4 Rescue the poor and needy; deliver them out of the hand of the wicked.

Rescue them from the power [MTY] of evil [people] [DOU]!”

5 They know not, neither do they understand; they go about in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are moved.

[Those rulers] do not know or understand anything! They are very corrupt/evil, and [as a result of their corrupt/evil behavior], [it is as though] the foundation of the world is being shaken!

6 I said: Ye are godlike beings, and all of you sons of the Most High.

I [the all-powerful God, previously] said to them, “You think you are gods! [It is as though] you are all my sons,

7 Nevertheless ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes.'

but you will die like people do; your lives will end, like the lives of all rulers end.”

8 Arise, O God, judge the earth; for Thou shalt possess all nations.

God, arise and judge [everyone on] [MTY] the earth, because all the people-groups belong to you!