THE NATIONS ARE YOUR INHERITANCE
Key verse: 8
NIV
Psalm 82
A psalm of Asaph.
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.
Footnotes
- Psalm 82:2 The Hebrew is plural.
- Psalm 82:2 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.
Cross references
- Psalm 82:1 : Ps 7:8; 58:11; Isa 3:13; 66:16; Joel 3:12
- Psalm 82:1 : S Job 21:22
- Psalm 82:2 : Dt 1:17
- Psalm 82:2 : Ps 58:1-2; Pr 18:5
- Psalm 82:3 : S Dt 24:17
- Psalm 82:3 : Ps 140:12; Jer 5:28; 22:16
- Psalm 82:5 : S Ps 14:4; S 53:2
- Psalm 82:5 : Job 30:26; Isa 5:30; 8:21-22; 9:2; 59:9; 60:2; Jer 13:16; 23:12; La 3:2
- Psalm 82:5 : S Jdg 5:4; S Ps 11:3
- Psalm 82:6 : Jn 10:34*
- Psalm 82:7 : Ps 49:12; Eze 31:14
- Psalm 82:8 : Ps 12:5
- Psalm 82:8 : S Ps 76:9
- Psalm 82:8 : Ps 2:8
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway
ESV
Rescue the Weak and Needy
A Psalm of (A)Asaph.82 (B)God (C)has taken his place in the divine council;
in the midst of (D)the gods he (E)holds judgment:
2 “How long will you judge unjustly
and (F)show partiality to (G)the wicked? Selah
3 (H)Give justice to (I)the weak and the fatherless;
(J)maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute.
4 (K)Rescue the weak and the needy;
(L)deliver them from the hand of the wicked.”
5 (M)They have neither knowledge nor understanding,
(N)they walk about in darkness;
(O)all the foundations of the earth are (P)shaken.
6 (Q)I said, “You are gods,
sons of the Most High, all of you;
7 nevertheless, like men (R)you shall die,
and fall like any prince.”[a]
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Footnotes
- Psalm 82:7 Or fall as one man, O princes
Cross references
- Psalm 82:1 : See Ps. 50, title
- Psalm 82:1 : [2 Chr. 19:5, 6; Eccles. 5:8]
- Psalm 82:1 : Isa. 3:13
- Psalm 82:1 : [1 Sam. 28:13]
- Psalm 82:1 : See Ps. 58:11
- Psalm 82:2 : Deut. 1:17
- Psalm 82:2 : Prov. 18:5
- Psalm 82:3 : Ps. 10:18
- Psalm 82:3 : Ps. 41:1
- Psalm 82:3 : Jer. 22:3
- Psalm 82:4 : Job 29:12
- Psalm 82:4 : Prov. 24:11
- Psalm 82:5 : [Mic. 3:1]; See Ps. 14:4
- Psalm 82:5 : Prov. 2:13
- Psalm 82:5 : See Ps. 11:3
- Psalm 82:5 : Ps. 10:6
- Psalm 82:6 : ver. 1; Cited John 10:34
- Psalm 82:7 : Ps. 49:12; Job 21:32; Ezek. 31:14; See Ezek. 28:2-10
- Psalm 82:8 : See Ps. 12:5
- Psalm 82:8 : Ps. 2:8; [Rev. 11:15]
82 (B)God (C)has taken his place in the divine council;
in the midst of (D)the gods he (E)holds judgment:
2 “How long will you judge unjustly
and (F)show partiality to (G)the wicked? Selah
3 (H)Give justice to (I)the weak and the fatherless;
(J)maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute.
4 (K)Rescue the weak and the needy;
(L)deliver them from the hand of the wicked.”
5 (M)They have neither knowledge nor understanding,
(N)they walk about in darkness;
(O)all the foundations of the earth are (P)shaken.
6 (Q)I said, “You are gods,
sons of the Most High, all of you;
7 nevertheless, like men (R)you shall die,
and fall like any prince.”[a]
Footnotes
- Psalm 82:7 Or fall as one man, O princes
Cross references
- Psalm 82:1 : See Ps. 50, title
- Psalm 82:1 : [2 Chr. 19:5, 6; Eccles. 5:8]
- Psalm 82:1 : Isa. 3:13
- Psalm 82:1 : [1 Sam. 28:13]
- Psalm 82:1 : See Ps. 58:11
- Psalm 82:2 : Deut. 1:17
- Psalm 82:2 : Prov. 18:5
- Psalm 82:3 : Ps. 10:18
- Psalm 82:3 : Ps. 41:1
- Psalm 82:3 : Jer. 22:3
- Psalm 82:4 : Job 29:12
- Psalm 82:4 : Prov. 24:11
- Psalm 82:5 : [Mic. 3:1]; See Ps. 14:4
- Psalm 82:5 : Prov. 2:13
- Psalm 82:5 : See Ps. 11:3
- Psalm 82:5 : Ps. 10:6
- Psalm 82:6 : ver. 1; Cited John 10:34
- Psalm 82:7 : Ps. 49:12; Job 21:32; Ezek. 31:14; See Ezek. 28:2-10
- Psalm 82:8 : See Ps. 12:5
- Psalm 82:8 : Ps. 2:8; [Rev. 11:15]
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
1. When injustice reigns (1-5)
God himself brings the unjust judges of the earth to trial. They are called 'gods' because they sit in judgment over other men. But when they show partiality to the wicked and render unjust judgments, the weak and poor suffer. The foundations of society are shaken when men who are responsible for justice are themselves corrupt.
2. God is the judge of all the earth (6-8)
All nations belong to God. He wants all people treated justly. Unjust judges, who are like 'gods' in rendering judgments, will all die like men--for they are mere men. God himself will preside over the final judgment, and everyone must stand before his judgment seat to receive what is due him for things done while in the body (2 Corinthians 5:1
).
Prayer: Lord, we live in an unjust world, but we all deserve your wrath. Judge us by the mercy of Christ, and hasten the day when your justice and righteousness will cover the earth as the waters cover the sea.
One Word: God is the judge of nations and people
