Psalms 82

God judges among the judges

od presides over heaven’s court; he pronounces judgment on the heavenly beings:a ²“How long will you hand down unjust decisions by favoring the wicked? Interlude ³“Give justice to the poor and the orphan; uphold the rights of the oppressed and the destitute.

⁴Rescue the poor and helpless; deliver them from the grasp of evil people.b ⁵But these oppressors know nothing; they are so ignorant! They wander about in darkness, while the whole world is shaken to the core.c ⁶I say, ‘You are gods; you are all children of the Most High.d

⁷But you will die like mere mortals and fall like every other ruler.’” ⁸Rise up, O God, and judge the earth, for all the nations belong to you.e

Commentary

Psalms 82 is a prophetic courtroom drama in which God presides over the assembly of divine beings, pronouncing judgment upon them for their failure to execute justice on behalf of the weak and oppressed. The psalm confronts the corruption of those entrusted with authority, whether a

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Bible Dictionary· Psalms 82(2)

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References· Psalms 82

a: v.1 — John 10:35, 2 Chronicles 19:6-7, Psalms 82:6-7, Isaiah 3:13, Psalms 58:11, Ecclesiastes 5:8, Psalms 138:1, Exodus 21:6, Exodus 22:28, Exodus 18:21
b: v.4 — Proverbs 24:11-12, Job 5:15-16, Job 29:12, Psalms 72:12-14, Psalms 140:12, Job 29:16-17, Nehemiah 5:1-13
c: v.5 — Psalms 11:3, Romans 1:28, Proverbs 2:13, Micah 3:1, Proverbs 1:29, 1 John 2:11, John 12:35, Psalms 14:4, Isaiah 59:9, 2 Timothy 2:19
d: v.6 — I said: You are gods: John 10:34; John 10:34-36, Psalms 82:1
e: v.8 — Revelation 11:15, Psalms 2:8, Psalms 96:13, Psalms 22:28, Psalms 102:13, Psalms 44:26, Zephaniah 3:8, Psalms 12:5, Micah 7:7, Isaiah 51:9

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