Discovery BoxPsalms 82:2-4 
Context82:2 He says, 1 “How long will you make unjust legal decisions
and show favoritism to the wicked? 2 (Selah)
82:3 Defend the cause of the poor and the fatherless! 3
Vindicate the oppressed and suffering!
82:4 Rescue the poor and needy!
Deliver them from the power 4 of the wicked!
1 tn The words “he says” are supplied in the translation to indicate that the following speech is God’s judicial decision (see v. 1).
2 tn Heb “and the face of the wicked lift up.”
3 tn The Hebrew noun יָתוֹם (yatom) refers to one who has lost his father (not necessarily his mother, see Ps 109:9). Because they were so vulnerable and were frequently exploited, fatherless children are often mentioned as epitomizing the oppressed (see Pss 10:14; 68:5; 94:6; 146:9; as well as Job 6:27; 22:9; 24:3, 9; 29:12; 31:17, 21).
4 tn Heb “hand.”
