Psalm 81

An exhortation to judges and men in power.

Does this psalm differ from what you were expecting? Don't be confused. There are two systems for arranging the psalms: the Septuagint and the Masoretic. We use the Septuagint system here. In the Masoretic system, which is used in most modern Bible translations, this psalm is called Psalm 82, and the previous psalm is known as Psalm 81.

English (Douay-Rheims)

1 A psalm for Asaph.

God hath stood in the congregation of gods: and being in the midst of them he judgeth gods.
2 How long will you judge unjustly: and accept the persons of the wicked?
3 Judge for the needy and fatherless: do justice to the humble and the poor.
4 Rescue the poor; and deliver the needy out of the hand of the sinner.
5 They have not known nor understood: they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth shall be moved.
6 I have said: You are gods and all of you the sons of the most High.
7 But you like men shall die: and shall fall like one of the princes.
8 Arise, O God, judge thou the earth: for thou shalt inherit among all the nations.

Old Testament first published 1609 by the English College at Douay
New Testament first published 1582 by the English College at Rheims
Revised and Annotated 1749 by Bishop Richard Challoner
Imprimatur. +James Cardinal Gibbons, Archbishop of Baltimore, September 1, 1899

Latin (Clementine Vulgate)

1 Psalmus Asaph.

Deus stetit in synagoga deorum;
in medio autem deos dijudicat.
2 Usquequo judicatis iniquitatem,
et facies peccatorum sumitis?
3 Judicate egeno et pupillo;
humilem et pauperem justificate.
4 Eripite pauperem,
et egenum de manu peccatoris liberate.
5 Nescierunt, neque intellexerunt;
in tenebris ambulant:
movebuntur omnia fundamenta terræ.
6 Ego dixi: Dii estis,
et filii Excelsi omnes.
7 Vos autem sicut homines moriemini,
et sicut unus de principibus cadetis.
8 Surge, Deus, judica terram,
quoniam tu hæreditabis in omnibus gentibus.

Transcribed as part of the Clementine Vulgate Project
Please notify the original transcriber (little.mouth@soon.com) of any errors in this Latin edition