Psalms 82
What Happens in This Chapter
In this psalm, God stands up in a meeting of rulers and judges them. He tells them to stop helping wicked people and to protect the poor, the orphans, and the weak. He says that even though they are called gods and sons of the Most High, they will die like any person. The psalm ends by asking God to come and judge the whole earth.
Plain reading written for kids. Short sentences, everyday words, one idea at a time.
God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods.
1God stands up in the meeting of the mighty ones. He judges the ones called gods.
2How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked? Selah.
2God asks them, "How long will you judge in unfair ways? How long will you take the side of people who do wrong?" Selah.
"Selah" is a Hebrew word found in songs. Nobody knows for sure what it meant. It may have told the singers to pause or the music to change.
3Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy.
3Stand up for poor people and for children with no father. Do what is fair for people who are hurting and have little.
4Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked.
4Rescue people who are poor and in need. Save them from the hands of those who do wrong.
5They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course.
5These rulers do not know, and they will not understand. They keep walking in the dark. The earth's very foundations are shaking.
"All the foundations of the earth are out of course" means the ground under everything is shaking. It is a picture of the world coming apart when rulers are unfair.
6I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.
6God said, "You are gods. All of you are sons of the Most High, which is a name for God."
7But ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes.
7"But you will die, the way all people die. You will fall, the way rulers fall."
8Arise, O God, judge the earth: for thou shalt inherit all nations.
8Get up, God! Come and judge the earth. All the nations of the world belong to you.
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