THE *BOOK OF
PSALMS.

Psalm 82

1The Psalmist having exhorted the judges, 5and reproved their misconduct, 8prayeth God to judge.


0 A 1Psalm of Asaph.

1 See the first annotation at Psalm 48 in the title; Psalm 50 in the title.

1God 2standeth 3in the congregation of the mighty; 4he judgeth 5among the gods.

2 That is, He is present, namely, as Sovereign or supreme Judge.

3 That is, in His congregation, in the assembly which gathers in His behalf, for his sake, and by His command, to do right, or administer justice: see Deut. 1:17 and 2 Chron. 19:6 and Rom. 13:1.

4 So namely, that He by His providence and wisdom so directs and orders their judgments, they must end in His glory. Or, he judgeth, that is, He observes exactly what sentences the judges pronounce, rewarding the judges who pronounce righteous judgments, and punishing those who unjustly oppress their subjects.

5 That is, in the midst of kings and princes, yea, of all authorities, as being altogether His governors. See Exod. 21:6; 22:8, 9, 28; John 10:34.

26How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept 7the persons of the wicked? Selah.

6 Here the prophet introduces God, addressing His speech to the unrighteous judges. Others hold it as the words of the psalmist.

7To accept the persons is here as much to say: to favor them in judgment who have an unrighteous cause, which God has expressly forbidden, Lev. 19:15; Deut. 1:17; 16:19; 2 Chron. 19:7; Prov. 18:5; James 2:1-9.

38Defend the poor and fatherless: 9do justice to the afflicted and needy.

8 That is, plead for, protect, deliver them. See Psalm 43:1; Isa. 1:17.

9 Understand herewith: if he has a righteous cause, then administer justice, advance his cause. See Deut. 25:1; Jer. 22:3.

4Delivera the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand 10of the wicked.

a Prov. 24:11.

10 That is, from them who have a bad or unjust cause, and seek to oppress the poor.

511They know not, neither will they understand; they 12walk on in darkness: 13all the foundations of the earth are out of course.

11 Namely, the judges; they neither know nor consider that God is present among them in the tribunal, and they do not ask after His punishments or command. See Prov. 29:7; Jer. 10:21; Micah 3:1.

12To walk in darkness is to live always in sin, Eph. 4:17, 18; 5:8; 1 John 1:6, or, in darkness, that is to say, in ignorance.

13 As if He would say: Since this is the case with kings, princes and authorities, therefore it is very much amiss in the world, and for this reason all the troubles and calamities arise in lands and cities. See Isa. 24:19, 20.

614I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.

14 As if He had said: I have honored you indeed thus far as to call you gods, having appointed you to administer justice and judgment in My Name; but etc. See verse 1; Exod. 21:6; 22:9, 28; John 10:34.

715But ye shall die 16like men, and 17fall 18like one of the princes.

15 Therefore you had need to walk and deal uprightly, remembering that you are to give account to God of all your actions and inactions.

16 Hebr. as Adam, that is, as well as any other ordinary, mortal men.

17 That is, die.

18 Namely, those who were and lived in times past and are all now dead. Other, and ye, princes, shall fall like others.

8Arise, O God, 19judge the earth: forb20thou shalt inherit all nations.

19 Namely, as the supreme Judge of the world. See Gen. 18:25. As if he had said: Lord, do Thou take the matter in hand and reclaim again what those evil, unjust judges have brought to ruin and confusion.

bPsalm 2:8; Heb. 1:2.

20 Hebr. Thou inheritest, or shalt inherit in all the nations, that is, Thou dost and shalt forever possess as Thy own property (as one possesses a lawful inheritance) the entire human race.