Psalm 82

Psalm 82

A psalm of Asaph.

¹God 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.

⁴Rescue the poor and helpless;

deliver them from the grasp of evil people.

⁵But these oppressors know nothing;

they are so ignorant!

They wander about in darkness,

while the whole world is shaken to the core.

⁶I say, ‘You are gods;

you are all children of the Most High.

⁷But you will die like mere mortals

and fall like every other ruler.’ ”

⁸Rise up, O God, and judge the earth,

for all the nations belong to you.