Psalm 82
Words: The Psalter of the United Presbyterian Church of North America, 1887 ed.
1 In gods' assembly God doth stand;
He judgeth gods among.
How long, accepting persons vile,
Will ye give judgment wrong?
2 Defend the poor and fatherless;
To poor oppressed do right.
The poor and needy ones set free;
Them save from ill men's might.
3 They know not, nor will understand;
In darkness they walk on:
For all foundations of the earth
Out of their course are gone.
4 I said that ye are gods, and are
The sons of God Most High;
But as the princes ye shall fall,
Like men ye all shall die.
5 O mighty God, do thou arise,
The earth to judgment call:
For thou, as thine inheritance,
Shalt take the nations all.
Second version
1 Among assembled men of might,
The mighty God doth stand:
He stands to order judgment right
To judges of the land.
2 How long will ye, with wrongful aid,
Th' oppressor's cause protect ?
How long, by gift and favor swayed,
The wicked man respect?
3 Protect the fatherless and weak,
Defend the poor distressed;
and give deliv'rance to the meek
By lawless power oppressed.
4 They will not know nor understand,
In darkness on they go:
Quake all the pillars of the land;
They totter to and fro.
5 "True, ye are gods, ye kings," I said
"And sons of God Most High;
Yet as the sons of men ye fade,
And as the princes die."
6 Arise, O God, assert thy right,
Pronounce thy just decree;
The heritage of earth by right
Belongs, O Lord, to thee.
