RISE UP, O GOD, JUDGE THE EARTH
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
This psalm is about God’s justice and judgment. God is the only truly righteous judge. The word “gods” in this psalm (1,5,6) refers to human judges. Many people in history have regarded themselves as “gods.” These human judges, whether Jewish or Gentile, were not making fair judgment. Rather, they were siding with the wicked and the unjust. Human judgment is often ignorant, like walking in darkness. But human rulers will die just like everyone else.
The psalm closes in prayer, “Rise up, O God, judge the earth, for all the nations are your inheritance” (8). He appeals to God to defend the weak, the fatherless, the poor, and the oppressed—those who have no defense. Only God is qualified to judge correctly, because the world and everything in it belongs to God.
Prayer: Lord God, how often we are prone to bad judgment, so may I not play the judge. Worldly rulers use their authority according to their own whims and standards. But you are the righteous Judge and everything and everyone belongs to you. Judge in righteousness, and also in mercy. In Jesus’ name.
One Word: God’s judgment is just and right
