Psalm 82 HCSB

A Plea for Righteous Judgment

A psalm of •Asaph.a

1God has taken His place in the divine assembly;

He judges among the gods:b, c

2“How long will you judge unjustly

and show partiality to the wicked?d•Selah

3Provide justice for the needy and the fatherless;

uphold the rights of the oppressed and the destitute.e

4Rescue the poor and needy;

save them from the power of the wicked.”f

5They do not know or understand;

they wander in darkness.g

All the foundations of the earth are shaken.h

6I said, “You are gods;i

you are all sons of the •Most High.j

7However, you will die like men

and fall like any other ruler.”k

8Rise up, God, judge the earth,

for all the nations belong to You.l

Footnotes:
a. 82:title 1Ch 16:5,7
b. 82:1 Or the heavenly beings, or the earthly rulers ; lit elohim
c. 82:1 Jb 21:22; Ps 7:8; 58:11
d. 82:2 Dt 1:17; Pr 18:5; Mal 2:9
e. 82:3 Dt 24:17; Is 11:4; Jr 22:16
f. 82:4 Jb 29:12; Pr 24:11
g. 82:5 Pr 2:13; Is 44:18
h. 82:5 Ps 11:3
i. 82:6 Jn 10:34
j. 82:6 Ps 82:1; Lk 6:35
k. 82:7 Ps 49:12
l. 82:8 Ps 58:11; 96:13