> [[psalm-81|← Previous]] | [[psalm-00|TOC]] | [[psalm-83|Next →]] --- # Psalm 82 ## The Downfall of Unjust Gods 1 A psalm of Asaph. ^psalm-82-1 ### I God takes a stand in the divine council, gives judgment in the midst of the gods. 2 “How long will you judge unjustly ^psalm-82-2 and favor the cause of the wicked? *Selah* 3 “Defend the lowly and fatherless; ^psalm-82-3 render justice to the afflicted and needy. 4 Rescue the lowly and poor; ^psalm-82-4 deliver them from the hand of the wicked.” ### II 5 The gods neither know nor understand, ^psalm-82-5 wandering about in darkness, and all the world’s foundations shake. 6 I declare: “Gods though you be, ^psalm-82-6 offspring of the Most High all of you, 7 Yet like any mortal you shall die; ^psalm-82-7 like any prince you shall fall.” 8 Arise, O God, judge the earth, ^psalm-82-8 for yours are all the nations. \* (Psalm 82) As in [Ps 58], the pagan gods are seen as subordinate divine beings to whom Israel’s God had delegated oversight of the foreign countries in the beginning ([Dt 32:8] – [9]). Now God arises in the heavenly assembly ([Ps 82:1]) to rebuke the unjust “gods” ([Ps 82:2] – [4]), who are stripped of divine status and reduced in rank to mortals ([Ps 82:5] – [7]). They are accused of misruling the earth by not upholding the poor. A short prayer for universal justice concludes the Psalm ([Ps 82:8]). \* (82:5) The gods are blind and unable to declare what is right. Their misrule shakes earth’s foundations (cf. ([[psalm-11|Ps 11]]:3]; [75:4]), which God made firm in creation ([Ps 96:10]). \* (82:6) I declare: “Gods though you be”: in [Jn 10:34] Jesus uses the verse to prove that those to whom the word of God is addressed can fittingly be called “gods.” \* (82:8) Judge the earth: according to [Dt 32:8] – [9], Israel’s God had originally assigned jurisdiction over the foreign nations to the subordinate deities, keeping Israel as a personal possession. Now God will directly take over the rulership of the whole world. a. (82:1) [Is 3:13] – [14]. b. (82:2) [Ps 58:2]. c. (82:4) [Dt 1:17]. d. (82:6) [2 Pt 1:4]. --- _New American Bible, revised edition_ (2010, 1991, 1986, 1970) Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, D.C. > [[psalm-81|← Previous]] | [[psalm-00|TOC]] | [[psalm-83|Next →]]