Psalms 82

1 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:

A Psalm of Asaph. God presides in the divine assembly; He renders judgment among the gods:

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

“How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked?

3 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.

Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; uphold the rights of the afflicted and oppressed.

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

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

5 [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!

They do not know or understand; they wander in the darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken.

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

I have said, ‘You are gods; you are all sons of the Most High.’

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

But like mortals you will die, and like rulers you will fall.”

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

Arise, O God, judge the earth, for all the nations are Your inheritance.