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 has stood in the synagogue of gods, but, in their midst, he decides between 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 favor the faces of sinners?

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.

Judge for the indigent and the orphan. Do justice to the humble and the poor.

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

Rescue the poor, and free the needy from the hand of the sinner.

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 did not know and did not understand. They wander in darkness. All the foundations of the earth will be moved.

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 said: You are gods, and all of you are 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 you will die like men, and you will fall just like one of the princes.

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

Rise up, O God. Judge the earth. For you will inherit it with all the nations.