Psalm 82:2–7

“How long will you judge unjustly

and show partiality to the wicked? Selah

Give justice to the weak and the fatherless;

maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute.

Rescue the weak and the needy;

deliver them from the hand of the wicked.”

They have neither knowledge nor understanding,

they walk about in darkness;

all the foundations of the earth are shaken.

I said, “You are gods,

sons of the Most High, all of you;

nevertheless, like men you shall die,

and fall like any prince.”

“How long will you defend the unjust

and show partiality to the wicked?

Defend the weak and the fatherless;

uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed.

Rescue the weak and the needy;

deliver them from the hand of the wicked.

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

They walk about in darkness;

all the foundations of the earth are shaken.

“I said, ‘You are “gods”;

you are all sons of the Most High.’

But you will die like mere mortals;

you will fall like every other ruler.”

“How long will you judge unjustly

and show partiality to the wicked?

Selah

Provide justice for the needy and the fatherless;

uphold the rights of the oppressed and the destitute.

Rescue the poor and needy;

save them from the power of the wicked.”

They do not know or understand;

they wander in darkness.

All the foundations of the earth are shaken.

I said, “You are gods;

you are all sons of the Most High.

However, you will die like humans

and fall like any other ruler.”

“How long will you hand down unjust decisions

by favoring the wicked?

Interlude

“Give justice to the poor and the orphan;

uphold the rights of the oppressed and the destitute.

Rescue the poor and helpless;

deliver them from the grasp of evil people.

But these oppressors know nothing;

they are so ignorant!

They wander about in darkness,

while the whole world is shaken to the core.

I say, ‘You are gods;

you are all children of the Most High.

But you will die like mere mortals

and fall like every other ruler.’ ”

“How long will you judge unjustly

and show favoritism to the wicked? Selah

Judge on behalf of the helpless and the orphan;

provide justice to the afflicted and the poor.

Rescue the helpless and the needy;

deliver them from the hand of the wicked.”

They do not know or consider.

They go about in the darkness,

so that all the foundations of the earth are shaken.

I have said, “You are gods,

and sons of the Most High, all of you.

However, you will die like men,

and you will fall like one of the princes.”

How long will ye judge unjustly,

And accept the persons of the wicked? Selah.

Defend the poor and fatherless:

Do justice to the afflicted and needy.

Deliver the poor and needy:

Rid them out of the hand of the wicked.

They know not, neither will they understand;

They walk on in darkness:

All the foundations of the earth are out of course.

I have said, Ye are gods;

And all of you are children of the most High.

But ye shall die like men,

And fall like one of the princes.