TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
NEVI'IM
PROPHETS
KETUVIM
WRITINGS

Chapter 82

Listen to this chapter in Hebrew:

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

אמִזְמוֹר לְאָסָף אֱ‍לֹהִים נִצָּב בַּעֲדַת־אֵל בְּקֶרֶב אֱלֹהִים יִשְׁפֹּט׃

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־מָתַי תִּשְׁפְּטוּ־עָוֶל וּפְנֵי רְשָׁעִים תִּשְׂאוּ־סֶלָה׃

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,

גשִׁפְטוּ־דַל וְיָתוֹם עָנִי וָרָשׁ הַצְדִּיקוּ׃

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

דפַּלְּטוּ־דַל וְאֶבְיוֹן מִיַּד רְשָׁעִים הַצִּילוּ׃

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

הלֹא יָדְעוּ וְלֹא יָבִינוּ בַּחֲשֵׁכָה יִתְהַלָּכוּ יִמּוֹטוּ כָּל־מוֹסְדֵי אָרֶץ׃

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

ואֲ‍נִי־אָמַרְתִּי אֱלֹהִים אַתֶּם וּבְנֵי עֶלְיוֹן כֻּלְּכֶם׃

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

זאָכֵן כְּאָדָם תְּמוּתוּן וּכְאַחַד הַשָּׂרִים תִּפֹּלוּ׃

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

חקוּמָה אֱלֹהִים שָׁפְטָה הָאָרֶץ כִּי־אַתָּה תִנְחַל בְּכָל־הַגּוֹיִם׃