82  A song by Asaf.

1 God stands in the divine assembly.

He renders judgement among the gods.

2 For how long will you judge unjustly

and show favouritism to the wicked? (Instrumental break.)

3 Defend the poor and the fatherless.

≈ Maintain the rights of those who are afflicted and destitute.

4 Rescue the poor and needy—

≈ help them escape from the control of the wicked people.

5 They neither know nor understand.

They wander around in the darkness.

All the earth’s foundations crumble.

6 I said, “You are ‘gods’,

and all of you are sons of the highest one.

7 Nevertheless you will die like men

and fall like one of the leaders.”

8 Take action, God, judge the earth,

because you have an inheritance in all the nations.