Psalm 82
A Plea for Righteous Judgment
A psalm of Asaph. n
1 God stands in the divine assembly;
he pronounces judgment among the gods: ,o
2 “How long will you judge unjustly
and show partiality to the wicked? p Selah
3 Provide justice for the needy and the fatherless;
uphold the rights of the oppressed and the destitute. q
4 Rescue the poor and needy;
save them from the power of the wicked.” r
5 They do not know or understand;
they wander in darkness. s
All the foundations of the earth are shaken. t
6 I said, “You are gods; u
you are all sons of the Most High. v
7 However, you will die like humans
and fall like any other ruler.” w
8 Rise up, God, judge the earth,
for all the nations belong to you. x
Psalm 82. The question “how long?” in the form found in 82:2 appears five other times in the Psalter, always directed toward God (6:3; 74:10; 80:4; 90:13; 94:3). This passage is the exception. In 80:4, God’s people challenge him with the words “how long”—How long will you fail to respond to us? In 81:13–16, God answers them in generic terms: “Listen to me . . . follow my ways.” Now, in 82:1–2, God gives them specifics. He redirects their question back to them: “How long” will you, O Israel, contradict all that I have taught you, by supporting the wicked and forsaking the helpless? Defend the defenseless; rescue those dominated by the world (82:3–4).