Psalms 82

1 A psalm of Asaph. God has taken his stand in the divine assembly: in the midst of the gods he holds judgment.

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

2 ‘How long will you crookedly judge, and favour the wicked? (Selah)

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

3 Do right by the weak and the orphan, acquit the innocent poor.

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

4 Rescue the weak and the needy, save them from the hand of the wicked.

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

5 ‘They have neither knowledge nor insight, in darkness they walk to and fro, while the earth’s foundations totter.

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

6 It was I who appointed you gods, children of the Most High all of you.

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

7 Yet like mortals you will surely die, you will fall like any prince.’

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

8 Arise, O God, judge the earth, for all nations are yours by inheritance.

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