Psalms 82

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

A Psalm. Of Asaph. God is in the meeting-place of God; he is judging among the gods.

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

How long will you go on judging falsely, having respect for the persons of evil-doers? (Selah)

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

Give ear to the cause of the poor and the children without fathers; let those who are troubled and in need have their rights.

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

Be the saviour of the poor and those who have nothing: take them out of the hand of the evil-doers.

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

They have no knowledge or sense; they go about in the dark: all the bases of the earth are moved.

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

I said, You are gods; all of you are the sons of the Most High:

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

But you will come to death like men, falling like one of the rulers of the earth.

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

Up! O God, come as judge of the earth; for all the nations are your heritage.