Psalm 82 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Psalm 82

A Plea for Justice

A Psalm of Asaph.

1 God has taken his place in the divine council;
in the midst of the gods he holds judgment:(A)
2 “How long will you judge unjustly
and show partiality to the wicked? Selah(B)
3 Give justice to the weak and the orphan;
maintain the right of the lowly and the destitute.(C)
4 Rescue the weak and the needy;
deliver them from the hand of the wicked.”(D)

5 They have neither knowledge nor understanding;
they walk around in darkness;
all the foundations of the earth are shaken.(E)

6 I say, “You are gods,
children of the Most High, all of you;(F)
7 nevertheless, you shall die like mortals
and fall like any prince.”[a](G)

8 Rise up, O God, judge the earth,
for all the nations belong to you!(H)

Footnotes

  1. 82.7Or fall as one man, O princes

Cross references

  1. 82.1 : Ex 21.6; Isa 3.13
  2. 82.2 : Deut 1.17; Ps 58.1; Prov 18.5
  3. 82.3 : Deut 24.17
  4. 82.4 : Job 29.12
  5. 82.5 : Ps 11.3; Mic 3.1
  6. 82.6 : Ps 89.26; Jn 10.34
  7. 82.7 : Ps 49.12; Ezek 31.14
  8. 82.8 : Ps 2.8; 12.5; Mic 7.2, 7; Rev 11.15