Psalms 82

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

— A Psalm of Asaph. God hath stood in the company of God, In the midst God doth judge.

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

Till when do ye judge perversely? And the face of the wicked lift up? (Selah)

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

Judge ye the weak and fatherless, The afflicted and the poor declare righteous.

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

Let the weak and needy escape, From the hand of the wicked deliver them.

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

They knew not, nor do they understand, In darkness they walk habitually, Moved are all the foundations of earth.

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

I — I have said, 'Gods ye [are], And sons of the Most High — all of you,

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

But as man ye die, and as one of the heads ye fall,

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

Rise, O God, judge the earth, For Thou hast inheritance among all the nations!