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BibleStudyIt Psalm 82

  • Psalm Chapter 82

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This is a psalm that Asaph wrote.

God and the gods [ a ]

82 God calls the powerful rulers to meet in heaven.
He sits on his throne to judge them.
2 He asks them, ‘How long will you continue to judge people
in a way that is not fair?
How long will you say that wicked people are right?
Selah.
3 You must help poor people and those with no family
to receive justice.
Help those who have pain and trouble
to receive the help that they need.
4 Rescue weak and helpless people,
so that evil people cannot hurt them.
5 The powerful leaders know nothing
and they understand nothing.
They walk about in a dark place.
At the same time the foundation of the earth shakes! [ b ]
6 I said, “You are gods.
You are all sons of the Most High God.
7 But you will die, as all people die.
You will come to an end, like all other rulers.” ’ [ c ]

8 God, now do something!
Judge all the nations of the earth.
For they all belong to you.

Footnotes

  1. 82:1 This psalm tells about God, who is leading a meeting in heaven. He is telling the powerful leaders how they should rule. These leaders may be rulers on earth, or they may be spiritual beings like angels. Because they are powerful, he calls them ‘gods’.
  2. 82:5 This tells us that the leaders do not know what they are doing. They are like people who cannot see their way in the dark. Because they do not rule well, it is like the whole earth is shaking. There is no justice anywhere.
  3. 82:7 The rulers thought that they were very powerful and that they were serving God. But they will die, as all people and rulers have to die one day.

One of Asaph’s songs of praise.

82 God stands in the assembly of the gods. [ a ]
He stands as judge among the judges.
2 He says, “How long will you judge unfairly
and show special favors to the wicked?” Selah

3 “Defend the poor and orphans.
Protect the rights of the poor.
4 Help those who are poor and helpless.
Save them from those who are evil.

5 “They [ b ] don’t know what is happening.
They don’t understand!
They don’t know what they are doing.
Their world is falling down around them!”
6 I, God Most High, say,
“You are gods, [ c ] my own sons.
7 But you will die as all people must die.
Your life will end like that of any ruler.”

8 Get up, God! You be the judge!
You be the leader over all the nations!

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 82:1 assembly of the gods Other nations taught that El (God) and the other gods met together to decide what to do with the people on earth. But many times kings and leaders were also called “gods.” So this psalm may be God’s warning to the leaders of Israel.
  2. Psalm 82:5 They This might mean that the poor don’t understand what is happening. Or it might mean that the “gods” or leaders don’t understand that they are ruining the world by not being fair and by not doing what is right.
  3. Psalm 82:6 gods Or “judges.”

82 God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods.

2 How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked? Selah.

3 Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy.

4 Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of 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.

6 I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.

7 But ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes.

8 Arise, O God, judge the earth: for thou shalt inherit all nations.

Unjust Judgments Rebuked.

A Psalm of Asaph.

82 God takes His ( A ) position in [ a ] His assembly;
He ( B ) judges in the midst of the ( C ) gods.
2 How long will you ( D ) judge unjustly
And ( E ) show partiality to the wicked? Selah
3 ( F ) Vindicate the weak and fatherless;
Do justice to the afflicted and destitute.
4 ( G ) Rescue the weak and needy;
Save them from the hand of the wicked.

5 They ( H ) do not know nor do they understand;
They ( I ) walk around in darkness;
All the ( J ) foundations of the earth are shaken.
6 [ b ] I ( K ) said, “You are gods,
And all of you are ( L ) sons of the Most High.
7 Nevertheless ( M ) you will die like men,
And fall like ( N ) one of the princes.”
8 ( O ) Arise, God, ( P ) judge the earth!
For You ( Q ) possess all the nations.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 82:1 Lit the assembly of God
  2. Psalm 82:6 Lit I, on my part

Psalm 82

A psalm of Asaph.

1 God presides in the great assembly;
he renders judgment ( A ) among the “gods”: ( B )

2 “How long will you [ a ] defend the unjust
and show partiality ( C ) to the wicked? [ b ] ( D )
3 Defend the weak and the fatherless; ( E )
uphold the cause of the poor ( F ) and the oppressed.
4 Rescue the weak and the needy;
deliver them from the hand of the wicked.

5 “The ‘gods’ know nothing, they understand nothing. ( G )
They walk about in darkness; ( H )
all the foundations ( I ) of the earth are shaken.

6 “I said, ‘You are “gods”; ( J )
you are all sons of the Most High.’
7 But you will die ( K ) like mere mortals;
you will fall like every other ruler.”

8 Rise up, ( L ) O God, judge ( M ) the earth,
for all the nations are your inheritance. ( N )

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 82:2 The Hebrew is plural.
  2. Psalm 82:2 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.