Daily Bible Reading

Rescue the Weak and Needy

A Psalm of Asaph.

1God has taken his place in the divine council;

in the midst of the gods he holds judgment:

2“How long will you judge unjustly

and show partiality to the wicked? Selah

3Give justice to the weak and the fatherless;

maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute.

4Rescue the weak and the needy;

deliver them from the hand of the wicked.”

5They have neither knowledge nor understanding,

they walk about in darkness;

all the foundations of the earth are shaken.

6I said, “You are gods,

sons of the Most High, all of you;

7nevertheless, like men you shall die,

and fall like any prince.”

8Arise, O God, judge the earth;

for you shall inherit all the nations!

Psalm 82

A psalm of Asaph.

1God presides in the great assembly;

he renders judgment among the “gods”:

2“How long will you defend the unjust

and show partiality to the wicked?

3Defend the weak and the fatherless;

uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed.

4Rescue the weak and the needy;

deliver them from the hand of the wicked.

5“The ‘gods’ know nothing, they understand nothing.

They walk about in darkness;

all the foundations of the earth are shaken.

6“I said, ‘You are “gods”;

you are all sons of the Most High.’

7But you will die like mere mortals;

you will fall like every other ruler.”

8Rise up, O God, judge the earth,

for all the nations are your inheritance.