Psalm 82:2
New International Version
“How long will you defend the unjust and show partiality to the wicked?

New Living Translation
“How long will you hand down unjust decisions by favoring the wicked? Interlude

English Standard Version
“How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked? Selah

Berean Standard Bible
“How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked? Selah

King James Bible
How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked? Selah.

New King James Version
How long will you judge unjustly, And show partiality to the wicked? Selah

New American Standard Bible
How long will you judge unjustly And show partiality to the wicked? Selah

NASB 1995
How long will you judge unjustly And show partiality to the wicked? Selah.

NASB 1977
How long will you judge unjustly, And show partiality to the wicked? Selah.

Legacy Standard Bible
How long will you judge unrighteously And show partiality to the wicked? Selah.

Amplified Bible
How long will you judge unjustly And show partiality to the wicked? Selah.

Christian Standard Bible
“How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked? Selah

Holman Christian Standard Bible
How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked? Selah

American Standard Version
How long will ye judge unjustly, And respect the persons of the wicked? [Selah

Contemporary English Version
"How long will you keep judging unfairly and favoring evil people?

English Revised Version
How long will ye judge unjustly, and respect the persons of the wicked? Selah

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"How long are you going to judge unfairly? How long are you going to side with wicked people?" [Selah]

Good News Translation
"You must stop judging unjustly; you must no longer be partial to the wicked!

International Standard Version
"How long will you judge partially by showing favor on the wicked? Interlude

Majority Standard Bible
“How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked? Selah

NET Bible
He says, "How long will you make unjust legal decisions and show favoritism to the wicked? (Selah)

New Heart English Bible
"How long will you judge unjustly, and show partiality to the wicked?" Selah.

Webster's Bible Translation
How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked? Selah.

World English Bible
“How long will you judge unjustly, and show partiality to the wicked?” Selah.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Until when do you judge perversely? And lift up the face of the wicked? Selah.

Young's Literal Translation
Till when do ye judge perversely? And the face of the wicked lift up? Selah.

Smith's Literal Translation
How long will ye judge wickedness, and ye will lift up the faces of the unjust? Silence.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
How long will you judge unjustly: and accept the persons of the wicked?

Catholic Public Domain Version
How long will you judge unjustly and favor the faces of sinners?

New American Bible
“How long will you judge unjustly and favor the cause of the wicked? Selah

New Revised Standard Version
“How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked? Selah
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
How long will you judge unjustly, and be partial to the wicked?

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
How long will you vindicate evil and accept the face of the wicked?
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
How long will ye judge unjustly, And respect the persons of the wicked? Selah

Brenton Septuagint Translation
How long will ye judge unrighteously, and accept the persons of sinners? Pause.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
God Presides in the Divine Assembly
1A Psalm of Asaph. God presides in the divine assembly; He renders judgment among the gods: 2“How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked? Selah 3Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; uphold the rights of the afflicted and oppressed.…

Cross References
Isaiah 1:23
Your rulers are rebels, friends of thieves. They all love bribes and chasing after rewards. They do not defend the fatherless, and the plea of the widow never comes before them.

Proverbs 17:15
Acquitting the guilty and condemning the righteous—both are detestable to the LORD.

Micah 3:1-2
Then I said: “Hear now, O leaders of Jacob, you rulers of the house of Israel. Should you not know justice? / You hate good and love evil. You tear the skin from my people and strip the flesh from their bones.

Jeremiah 22:3
This is what the LORD says: Administer justice and righteousness. Rescue the victim of robbery from the hand of his oppressor. Do no wrong or violence to the foreigner, the fatherless, or the widow. Do not shed innocent blood in this place.

Isaiah 10:1-2
Woe to those who enact unjust statutes and issue oppressive decrees, / to deprive the poor of fair treatment and withhold justice from the oppressed of My people, to make widows their prey and orphans their plunder.

Ezekiel 22:27-29
Her officials within her are like wolves tearing their prey, shedding blood, and destroying lives for dishonest gain. / Her prophets whitewash these deeds by false visions and lying divinations, saying, ‘This is what the Lord GOD says,’ when the LORD has not spoken. / The people of the land have practiced extortion and committed robbery. They have oppressed the poor and needy and have exploited the foreign resident without justice.

Amos 5:12
For I know that your transgressions are many and your sins are numerous. You oppress the righteous by taking bribes; you deprive the poor of justice in the gate.

Zechariah 7:9-10
“This is what the LORD of Hosts says: ‘Administer true justice. Show loving devotion and compassion to one another. / Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the foreigner or the poor. And do not plot evil in your hearts against one another.’

Deuteronomy 16:19
Do not deny justice or show partiality. Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the righteous.

Exodus 23:6-7
You shall not deny justice to the poor in their lawsuits. / Stay far away from a false accusation. Do not kill the innocent or the just, for I will not acquit the guilty.

James 2:1-4
My brothers, as you hold out your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, do not show favoritism. / Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. / If you lavish attention on the man in fine clothes and say, “Here is a seat of honor,” but say to the poor man, “You must stand” or “Sit at my feet,” ...

Matthew 23:23
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You pay tithes of mint, dill, and cumin. But you have disregarded the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy, and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.

Luke 11:42
Woe to you Pharisees! For you pay tithes of mint, rue, and every herb, but you disregard justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without neglecting the former.

Romans 2:11
For God does not show favoritism.

Acts 10:34-35
Then Peter began to speak: “I now truly understand that God does not show favoritism, / but welcomes those from every nation who fear Him and do what is right.


Treasury of Scripture

How long will you judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked? Selah.

how

Psalm 62:3
How long will ye imagine mischief against a man? ye shall be slain all of you: as a bowing wall shall ye be, and as a tottering fence.

Exodus 10:3
And Moses and Aaron came in unto Pharaoh, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD God of the Hebrews, How long wilt thou refuse to humble thyself before me? let my people go, that they may serve me.

1 Kings 18:21
And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.

judge

Psalm 58:1,2
To the chief Musician, Altaschith, Michtam of David. Do ye indeed speak righteousness, O congregation? do ye judge uprightly, O ye sons of men? …

Exodus 23:6,7
Thou shalt not wrest the judgment of thy poor in his cause…

Leviticus 19:15
Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honour the person of the mighty: but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour.

accept

Deuteronomy 1:17
Ye shall not respect persons in judgment; but ye shall hear the small as well as the great; ye shall not be afraid of the face of man; for the judgment is God's: and the cause that is too hard for you, bring it unto me, and I will hear it.

2 Chronicles 19:7
Wherefore now let the fear of the LORD be upon you; take heed and do it: for there is no iniquity with the LORD our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking of gifts.

Job 34:19
How much less to him that accepteth not the persons of princes, nor regardeth the rich more than the poor? for they all are the work of his hands.

Jump to Previous
Accept Defend Evil-Doers Face Falsely Judge Judging Lift Partiality Persons Perversely Respect Selah Show Unjust Unjustly Unrighteously Wicked
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Accept Defend Evil-Doers Face Falsely Judge Judging Lift Partiality Persons Perversely Respect Selah Show Unjust Unjustly Unrighteously Wicked
Psalm 82
1. The psalmist, having exhorted the judges
5. And reproved their negligence
8. Prays God to judge














How long
This phrase suggests a period of time that has been extended beyond what is just or reasonable. In the Hebrew, the word used is "עַד־מָתַי" (ad-matay), which conveys a sense of impatience or urgency. It implies that the actions being addressed have been ongoing and that there is a divine expectation for change. Historically, this reflects the patience of God, who is long-suffering but also just, and it serves as a call to self-examination for those in positions of authority.

will you judge unjustly
The Hebrew word for "judge" is "תִּשְׁפְּטוּ" (tishpetu), which means to govern or to render a decision. The term "unjustly" is derived from "עָוֶל" (avel), meaning iniquity or injustice. This phrase is a direct rebuke to those who are in positions of judicial or moral authority but fail to uphold righteousness. In the scriptural context, it is a reminder that God is the ultimate judge and that human judges are accountable to His standards. The historical context of Israelite society, where judges were expected to reflect God's justice, underscores the gravity of this admonition.

and show partiality
The Hebrew word "תִּשָּׂאוּ" (tissa'u) means to lift up or to show favor. This phrase addresses the sin of favoritism, which is condemned throughout Scripture. Partiality undermines justice and is contrary to the character of God, who is impartial. In the historical context, showing partiality often meant favoring the wealthy or powerful, which led to the oppression of the poor and marginalized. This serves as a timeless warning against corruption and the misuse of authority.

to the wicked
The term "wicked" is translated from the Hebrew "רְשָׁעִים" (resha'im), which refers to those who are morally wrong or guilty. In the biblical narrative, the wicked are often those who oppose God's laws and oppress others. This phrase highlights the moral failure of leaders who align themselves with evil rather than standing for righteousness. It serves as a call to repentance and a reminder of the ultimate accountability before God.

Selah
This term is often used in the Psalms and is thought to be a musical or liturgical pause. While its exact meaning is uncertain, it invites the reader or listener to pause and reflect on the preceding message. In this context, "Selah" emphasizes the seriousness of the charge against unjust judges and the need for introspection and change. It serves as a moment to consider the weight of God's justice and the call to align one's actions with His righteous standards.

(2-4) These verses contain the rebuke addressed by the supreme judge to those abusing the judicial office and function.

(2) How long?--What a terrible severity in this Divine Quousque tandem!

"The gods

Grow angry with your patience; this their care,

And must be yours, that guilty men escape not;

As crimes do grow, justice should rouse itself."

BEN JONSON.

Judge unjustly.--Literally, judge iniquity. For the opposite expression see Psalm 58:1. Leviticus 19:15, which lays down the great principle of strictly fair and unbribable justice is evidently in the poet's mind, as is shown by the use of the next clause. . . .

Verse 2. - How long will ye judge unjustly? "The cry of the impatient Jehovah" (Cheyne); comp. Exodus 10:3; Exodus 16:28; Numbers 14:11, 27. And accept the persons of the wicked? Accepting men's persons is favouring them unduly on account of their position or outward circumstances. It was strictly forbidden in the Mosaic Law (see Deuteronomy 1:17; Deuteronomy 16:19; Leviticus 19:15).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
“How long
עַד־ (‘aḏ-)
Preposition
Strong's 5704: As far as, even to, up to, until, while

will you judge
תִּשְׁפְּטוּ־ (tiš·pə·ṭū-)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 8199: To judge, pronounce sentence, to vindicate, punish, to govern, to litigate

unjustly
עָ֑וֶל (‘ā·wel)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5766: Injustice, unrighteousness

and show partiality
וּפְנֵ֥י (ū·p̄ə·nê)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - common plural construct
Strong's 6440: The face

to the wicked?
רְ֝שָׁעִ֗ים (rə·šā·‘îm)
Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 7563: Wrong, an, bad person

Selah
סֶֽלָה׃ (se·lāh)
Interjection
Strong's 5542: Suspension, pause


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OT Poetry: Psalm 82:2 How long will you judge unjustly (Psalm Ps Psa.)
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