Psalm 82

A Plea for Justice

A Psalm of Asaph.
¹God has taken his place in the divine council;
   in the midst of the gods he holds judgement:
²‘How long will you judge unjustly
   and show partiality to the wicked?
          Selah
³Give justice to the weak and the orphan;
   maintain the right of the lowly and the destitute.
⁴Rescue the weak and the needy;
   deliver them from the hand of the wicked.’

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

⁶I say, ‘You are gods,
   children of the Most High, all of you;
⁷nevertheless, you shall die like mortals,
   and fall like any prince.’^*

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