Corpus Psalterium · Vol. IV
Psalm LXXXII (82)
Cantillated — Judicial Dialogue
Paul Whitehorn
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Psalm 82 in Hebrew and English, and the words as they are sung.
A Psalm by Asaph.
God presides in the great assembly. He judges among the gods.
מִזְמ֗וֹר לְאָ֫סָ֥ף אֱֽלֹהִ֗ים נִצָּ֥ב בַּעֲדַת־אֵ֑ל בְּקֶ֖רֶב אֱלֹהִ֣ים יִשְׁפֹּֽט׃
“How long will you judge unjustly, and show partiality to the wicked?” Selah.
עַד־מָתַ֥י תִּשְׁפְּטוּ־עָ֑וֶל וּפְנֵ֥י רְ֝שָׁעִ֗ים תִּשְׂאוּ־סֶֽלָה׃
“Defend the weak, the poor, and the fatherless. Maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed.
שִׁפְטוּ־דַ֥ל וְיָת֑וֹם עָנִ֖י וָרָ֣שׁ הַצְדִּֽיקוּ׃
Rescue the weak and needy. Deliver them out of the hand of the wicked.”
פַּלְּטוּ־דַ֥ל וְאֶבְי֑וֹן מִיַּ֖ד רְשָׁעִ֣ים הַצִּֽילוּ׃
They don’t know, neither do they understand. They walk back and forth in darkness. All the foundations of the earth are shaken.
לֹ֤א יָֽדְע֨וּ ׀ וְלֹ֥א יָבִ֗ינוּ בַּחֲשֵׁכָ֥ה יִתְהַלָּ֑כוּ יִ֝מּ֗וֹטוּ כָּל־מ֥וֹסְדֵי אָֽרֶץ׃
I said, “You are gods, all of you are sons of the Most High.
אֲֽנִי־אָ֭מַרְתִּי אֱלֹהִ֣ים אַתֶּ֑ם וּבְנֵ֖י עֶלְי֣וֹן כֻּלְּכֶֽם׃
Nevertheless you shall die like men, and fall like one of the rulers.”
אָ֭כֵן כְּאָדָ֣ם תְּמוּת֑וּן וּכְאַחַ֖ד הַשָּׂרִ֣ים תִּפֹּֽלוּ׃
Arise, God, judge the earth, for you inherit all of the nations.
קוּמָ֣ה אֱ֭לֹהִים שָׁפְטָ֣ה הָאָ֑רֶץ כִּֽי־אַתָּ֥ה תִ֝נְחַ֗ל בְּכָל־הַגּוֹיִֽם׃
Hebrew: Westminster Leningrad Codex (public domain), from the Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible. English: World English Bible (public domain). Verse numbers follow the English Bible; the Hebrew numbering is shown beneath where it differs.
God stands
in the divine assembly
He rises
to judge
In the midst
of those called gods
He judges
How long
will you judge unjustly
How long
will you lift the face
of the wicked
Judge the weak
the orphan
Vindicate
the poor
the afflicted
Rescue the weak
the needy
Deliver them
from the hand
of the wicked
They do not know
They do not understand
They walk
in darkness
All foundations
of the earth
are shaken
Judge the weak
Judge the poor
Rescue
Deliver
Judge the weak
Judge the poor
Rescue
Deliver
I said
You are called gods
Sons
of the Most High
all of you
Placed in authority
to judge in My name
Set above others
to uphold justice
But you judged
with injustice
You lifted
the wicked
You forgot
the weak
You abandoned
the fatherless
So like men
you will die
Like rulers
you will fall
Darkness covered
your judgment
Truth abandoned
your courts
Now the verdict
stands
Arise
O God
Judge the earth
Arise
O God
Judge the earth
For You alone
are judge
Arise
O God
Judge the earth
All nations
are Yours
Arise
Judge the earth
Lyrics by Paul Whitehorn: a singable English rendering of the Hebrew, as sung on this recording.
Corpus Psalterium sets each psalm to music by its Hebrew grammar. Didactic psalms teach; Cantillated psalms are spoken, sung or performed before God. Hear all 150 psalms free.