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TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
NEVI'IM
PROPHETS
KETUVIM
WRITINGS

Chapter 82

Translation and Transliteration of 

1A psalm of Asaf. Hashem stands in the divine assembly; among the divine beings He pronounces judgment.

miz-MOR l'-a-SAF e-lo-HEEM ni-TZAV ba-a-DAT-EL b'-KE-rev e-lo-HEEM yish-POT

אמִזְמ֗וֹר לְאָ֫סָ֥ף אֱֽלֹהִ֗ים נִצָּ֥ב בַּעֲדַת־אֵ֑ל בְּקֶ֖רֶב אֱלֹהִ֣ים יִשְׁפֹּֽט׃

2How long will you judge perversely, showing favor to the wicked? Selah.

ad ma-TAI tish-p'-tu A-vel uf-NAY r'-sha-EEM tis-u SE-lah

בעַד־מָתַ֥י תִּשְׁפְּטוּ־עָ֑וֶל וּפְנֵ֥י רְ֝שָׁעִ֗ים תִּשְׂאוּ־סֶֽלָה׃

82:2   How long will you judge perversely

A nation without a proper justice system will crumble. The prophet Yeshayahu criticizes the people, pointing out that while they love to offer sacrifices, they do not judge the orphan, widow and stranger with compassion. In a most biting simile, he compares the people to Sodom and Gomorrah (Isaiah 1:10-17). This psalm is directed at the corrupt judges who pander to the wealthy and influential. Asaf ridicules these judges, who take themselves to be of great importance, and reminds them that their demise will surely come. In the end, he calls out to Hashem to return to Israel and take His rightful place as the true Judge of the land.

3Judge the wretched and the orphan, vindicate the lowly and the poor,

shif-TU-dal v'-ya-TOM a-NEE va-RASH ha-tz'-di-KU

גשִׁפְטוּ־דַ֥ל וְיָת֑וֹם עָנִ֖י וָרָ֣שׁ הַצְדִּֽיקוּ׃

4rescue the wretched and the needy; save them from the hand of the wicked.

pa-le-TU-dal v'-ev-YON mi-YAD re-sha-EEM ha-tsi-LU

דפַּלְּטוּ־דַ֥ל וְאֶבְי֑וֹן מִיַּ֖ד רְשָׁעִ֣ים הַצִּֽילוּ׃

5They neither know nor understand, they go about in darkness; all the foundations of the earth totter.

lo ya-d'-U v'-lo ya-vee-NU ba-cha-SHE-kha yit-ha-LA-khu, yi-MO-tu kol-mo-s'-DEI a-RETZ

הלֹ֤א יָדְע֨וּ ׀ וְלֹ֥א יָבִ֗ינוּ בַּחֲשֵׁכָ֥ה יִתְהַלָּ֑כוּ יִ֝מּ֗וֹטוּ כׇּל־מ֥וֹסְדֵי אָֽרֶץ׃

6I had taken you for divine beings, sons of the Most High, all of you;

a-NEE a-mar-TEE e-lo-HEEM a-TEM u-ve-NAY el-YON ku-LE-khem

ואֲֽנִי־אָ֭מַרְתִּי אֱלֹהִ֣ים אַתֶּ֑ם וּבְנֵ֖י עֶלְי֣וֹן כֻּלְּכֶֽם׃

7but you shall die as men do, fall like any prince.

a-KHEN k'-a-DAM t'-mu-TUN u-k'-a-KHAD ha-sa-REEM ti-PO-lu

זאָ֭כֵן כְּאָדָ֣ם תְּמוּת֑וּן וּכְאַחַ֖ד הַשָּׂרִ֣ים תִּפֹּֽלוּ׃

8Arise, O Hashem, judge the earth, for all the nations are Your possession.

KU-ma e-lo-HEEM sho-f'-TA ha-A-retz, kee a-TAH tin-KHAL b'-KOL ha-go-YIM. (Selah)

חקוּמָ֣ה אֱ֭לֹהִים שׇׁפְטָ֣ה הָאָ֑רֶץ כִּֽי־אַתָּ֥ה תִ֝נְחַ֗ל בְּכׇל־הַגּוֹיִֽם׃