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 congregation of God, He judges among the gods.

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

Until when do you judge perversely? And lift up the face of the wicked? (Selah)

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 the weak and fatherless, Declare the afflicted and the poor righteous.

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

Let the weak and needy escape, Deliver 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 did not know, nor do they understand, They habitually walk in darkness, All the foundations of earth are 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 have said, “You [are] gods, And sons of the Most High—all of you,

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

But you die as man, and you fall as one of the heads.”

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

Rise, O God, judge the earth, For You have inheritance among all the nations!