82 God stands up to open heaven’s court. He pronounces judgment on the judges.[a] 2 How long will you judges refuse to listen to the evidence? How long will you shower special favors on the wicked? 3 Give fair judgment to the poor man, the afflicted, the fatherless, the destitute. 4 Rescue the poor and helpless from the grasp of evil men. 5 But you are so foolish and so ignorant! Because you are in darkness, all the foundations of society[b] are shaken to the core. 6 I have called you all “gods” and “sons of the Most High.” 7 But in death you are mere men. You will fall as any prince—for all must die.
8 Stand up, O God, and judge the earth. For all of it belongs to you. All nations are in your hands.
Footnotes
- Psalm 82:1 He pronounces judgment on the judges, implied in vv. 2-4, 6; literally, “He judges among the gods.”
- Psalm 82:5 of society, literally, “of the earth.”