Psalm 82:1–8

1 God presides in the great assembly;

he renders judgment among the “gods”:

2 “How long will you defend the unjust

and show partiality to the wicked?

3 Defend the weak and the fatherless;

uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed.

4 Rescue the weak and the needy;

deliver them from the hand of the wicked.

5 “The ‘gods’ know nothing, they understand nothing.

They walk about in darkness;

all the foundations of the earth are shaken.

6 “I said, ‘You are “gods”;

you are all sons of the Most High.’

7 But you will die like mere mortals;

you will fall like every other ruler.”

8 Rise up, O God, judge the earth,

for all the nations are your inheritance.

1 God has taken his place in the divine council;

in the midst of the gods he holds judgment:

2 “How long will you judge unjustly

and show partiality to the wicked? Selah

3 Give justice to the weak and the fatherless;

maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute.

4 Rescue the weak and the needy;

deliver them from the hand of the wicked.”

5 They have neither knowledge nor understanding,

they walk about in darkness;

all the foundations of the earth are shaken.

6 I said, “You are gods,

sons of the Most High, all of you;

7 nevertheless, like men you shall die,

and fall like any prince.”

8 Arise, O God, judge the earth;

for you shall inherit all the nations!

1 God standeth in the congregation of the mighty;

He judgeth among the gods.

2 How long will ye judge unjustly,

And accept the persons of the wicked? Selah.

3 Defend the poor and fatherless:

Do justice to the afflicted and needy.

4 Deliver the poor and needy:

Rid them out of the hand of the wicked.

5 They know not, neither will they understand;

They walk on in darkness:

All the foundations of the earth are out of course.

6 I have said, Ye are gods;

And all of you are children of the most High.

7 But ye shall die like men,

And fall like one of the princes.

8 Arise, O God, judge the earth:

For thou shalt inherit all nations.

1 God presides over heaven’s court;

he pronounces judgment on the heavenly beings:

2 “How long will you hand down unjust decisions

by favoring the wicked?

Interlude

3 “Give justice to the poor and the orphan;

uphold the rights of the oppressed and the destitute.

4 Rescue the poor and helpless;

deliver them from the grasp of evil people.

5 But these oppressors know nothing;

they are so ignorant!

They wander about in darkness,

while the whole world is shaken to the core.

6 I say, ‘You are gods;

you are all children of the Most High.

7 But you will die like mere mortals

and fall like every other ruler.’ ”

8 Rise up, O God, and judge the earth,

for all the nations belong to you.

1 God is in charge of the great meeting;

he judges among the “gods.”

2 He says, “How long will you defend evil people?

How long will you show greater kindness to the wicked?

Selah

3 Defend the weak and the orphans;

defend the rights of the poor and suffering.

4 Save the weak and helpless;

free them from the power of the wicked.

5 “You know nothing. You don’t understand.

You walk in the dark,

while the world is falling apart.

6 I said, ‘You are “gods.”

You are all sons of God Most High.’

7 But you will die like any other person;

you will fall like all the leaders.”

8 God, come and judge the earth,

because you own all the nations.

1 God standeth in the congregation of God;

He judgeth among the gods.

2 How long will ye judge unjustly,

And respect the persons of the wicked? Selah

3 Judge the poor and fatherless:

Do justice to the afflicted and destitute.

4 Rescue the poor and needy:

Deliver them out of the hand of the wicked.

5 They know not, neither do they understand;

They walk to and fro in darkness:

All the foundations of the earth are shaken.

6 I said, Ye are gods,

And all of you sons of the Most High.

7 Nevertheless ye shall die like men,

And fall like one of the princes.

8 Arise, O God, judge the earth;

For thou shalt inherit all the nations.

1 God standeth in the assembly of •God, he judgeth among the gods. 2 How long will ye judge unrighteously, and accept the person of the wicked? Selah. 3 Judge the poor and the fatherless, do justice to the afflicted and the destitute; 4 Rescue the poor and needy, deliver them out of the hand of the wicked. 5 They know not, neither do they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are moved.

6 I have said, Ye are gods, and all of you are children of the Most High; 7 But ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes. 8 Arise, O God, judge the earth; for thou shalt inherit all the nations.

1 God takes his place in his own assembly. 

He pronounces judgment among the gods: 

2 “How long are you going to judge unfairly? 

How long are you going to side with wicked people?” 

Selah 

3 Defend weak people and orphans. 

Protect the rights of the oppressed and the poor. 

4 Rescue weak and needy people. 

Help them escape the power of wicked people. 

5 Wicked people do not know or understand anything. 

As they walk around in the dark, 

all the foundations of the earth shake. 

6 I said, “You are gods. 

You are all sons of the Most High. 

7 You will certainly die like humans 

and fall like any prince.” 

8 Arise, O God! 

Judge the earth, because all the nations belong to you. 

1 God has taken His place in the divine assembly;

He judges among the gods:

2 “How long will you judge unjustly

and show partiality to the wicked? Selah

3 Provide justice for the needy and the fatherless;

uphold the rights of the oppressed and the destitute.

4 Rescue the poor and needy;

save them from the power of the wicked.”

5 They do not know or understand;

they wander in darkness.

All the foundations of the earth are shaken.

6 I said, “You are gods;

you are all sons of the Most High.

7 However, you will die like men

and fall like any other ruler.”

8 Rise up, God, judge the earth,

for all the nations belong to You.

1 God has taken his place in the divine council;

in the midst of the gods he holds judgment:

2 “How long will you judge unjustly

and show partiality to the wicked?   Selah

3 Give justice to the weak and the orphan;

maintain the right of the lowly and the destitute.

4 Rescue the weak and the needy;

deliver them from the hand of the wicked.”

5 They have neither knowledge nor understanding;

they walk around in darkness;

all the foundations of the earth are shaken.

6 I say, “You are gods,

children of the Most High, all of you;

7 nevertheless, you shall die like mortals

and fall like any prince.”

8 Rise up, O God, judge the earth,

for all the nations belong to you!

1 God stands in the divine assembly;

he administers judgment in the midst of the gods.

2 “How long will you judge unjustly

and show favoritism to the wicked? Selah

3 Judge on behalf of the helpless and the orphan;

provide justice to the afflicted and the poor.

4 Rescue the helpless and the needy;

deliver them from the hand of the wicked.”

5 They do not know or consider.

They go about in the darkness,

so that all the foundations of the earth are shaken.

6 I have said, “You are gods,

and sons of the Most High, all of you.

7 However, you will die like men,

and you will fall like one of the princes.”

8 Rise up, O God, judge the earth,

because you shall inherit all the nations.

1 God takes his place at the head of a large gathering of rulers and judges.

He announces his decisions among them.

2 He says, “How long will you stand up for those who aren’t fair to others?

How long will you show favor to sinful people? Selah

3 Stand up for those who are weak and for those whose fathers have died.

See to it that those who are poor and those who are beaten down are treated fairly.

4 Save the weak and those who are in need.

Save them from the power of sinful people.

5 “You rulers and judges don’t know anything.

You don’t understand anything.

You are in the dark about what is right.

Law and order have been destroyed all over the world.

6 “I said, ‘Rulers and judges, you are “gods.”

You are all children of the Most High God.’

7 But you will die, just like everyone else.

You will die like every other ruler.”

8 God, rise up. Judge the earth.

All of the nations belong to you.

1 God takes His stand in His own congregation;

He judges in the midst of the rulers.

2 How long will you judge unjustly

And show partiality to the wicked?

Selah.

3 Vindicate the weak and fatherless;

Do justice to the afflicted and destitute.

4 Rescue the weak and needy;

Deliver them out of the hand of the wicked.

5 They do not know nor do they understand;

They walk about in darkness;

All the foundations of the earth are shaken.

6 I said, “You are gods,

And all of you are sons of the Most High.

7 “Nevertheless you will die like men

And fall like any one of the princes.”

8 Arise, O God, judge the earth!

For it is You who possesses all the nations.