Psalm 82
Words: John Milton.
One of nine Psalms done into metre by John Milton during April, 1648.
Words in brackets are words that are different from the text of the Psalm as it was in Milton's Bible. We have left the spelling as we found it, a mixture of modern and ancient.
1 God in the great assembly stands
[Of Kings and lordly States,]
Among the gods on both his hands
He judges and debates.
2 How long will ye pervert the right
With judgment false and wrong
Favouring the wicked [by your might,]
[Who thence grow bold and strong?]
3 Regard the weak and fatherless
Dispatch the poor mans cause,
And raise the man in deep distress
By just and equal Lawes.
4 Defend the poor and desolate,
And rescue from the hands
Of wicked men the low estate
Of him [that help demands.]
5 They know not nor will understand,
In darkness they walk on,
The Earths foundations all are mov'd
And out of order gone.
6 I said that ye were Gods, yea all
The Sons of God most high
7 But ye shall die like men, and fall
As other Princes [die.]
8 Rise God, judge thou the earth [in might,]
This [wicked] earth redress,
For thou art he who shalt by right
The Nations all possess.
