Psalms 82
God stands in the divine assembly and rebukes the unjust rulers who show partiality to the wicked and fail to defend the poor and fatherless. He declares that though they are called gods, they will die like men, and He calls on God to rise up and judge the whole earth.
| v | King James Version | Modern English |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods. | God presides in the great assembly; He renders judgment among the gods: |
| 2 | How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked? Selah. | "How long will you defend the unjust and show partiality to the wicked? |
| 3 | Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy. | Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed. |
| 4 | Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked. | Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from 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. | The 'gods' know nothing, they understand nothing. They walk about in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken. |
| 6 | I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High. | I said, 'You are gods; You are all sons of the Most High.' |
| 7 | But ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes. | But You shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes. |
| 8 | Arise, O God, judge the earth: for thou shalt inherit all nations. | Rise up, O God, judge the earth, for all the nations are your inheritance. |