Psalms 82

1 God gathers all the [rulers and judges who think they are] gods for a meeting in heaven; and he tells them that he has decided this:

A psalm of Asaph. God has taken his stand in the divine assembly: in the midst of the gods he holds judgment.

2 “You must [RHQ] stop judging [people] unfairly; you must no longer make decisions that favor wicked [people]!

‘How long will you crookedly judge, and favour the wicked? (Selah)

3 You must defend [people who are] poor and orphans; you must act fairly toward those who are needy and those who have no one to help them.

Do right by the weak and the orphan, acquit the innocent poor.

4 Rescue them from the power [MTY] of evil [people] [DOU]!”

Rescue the weak and the needy, save them from the hand of the wicked.

5 [Those rulers] do not know or understand anything! They are very corrupt/evil, and [as a result of their corrupt/evil behavior], [it is as though] the foundation of the world is being shaken!

‘They have neither knowledge nor insight, in darkness they walk to and fro, while the earth’s foundations totter.

6 I [the all-powerful God, previously] said to them, “You think you are gods! [It is as though] you are all my sons,

It was I who appointed you gods, children of the Most High all of you.

7 but you will die like people do; your lives will end, like the lives of all rulers end.”

Yet like mortals you will surely die, you will fall like any prince.’

8 God, arise and judge [everyone on] [MTY] the earth, because all the people-groups belong to you!

Arise, O God, judge the earth, for all nations are yours by inheritance.