מִזְמוֹר לְאָסָף אֱלֹהִים נִצָּב בַּעֲדַת אֵל בְּקֶרֶב אֱלֹהִים יִשְׁפֹּט

A psalm by Asaf. God stands, that is, He is eternally present, in the assembly of the Almighty, a reference to a court that decides weighty matters, such as capital crimes. Such a court comprises twenty-three judges and is aptly called an assembly. In the midst of the judges He renders judgment. The psalmist reminds these judges that whether they sense it or not, God Himself is present among them, keeping a watchful eye over all their decisions.

עַד מָתַי תִּשְׁפְּטוּ עָוֶל וּפְנֵי רְשָׁעִים תִּשְׂאוּ סֶלָה

The judges are now admonished: For how long will you judge wrongly and show favor to the wicked? Selah. Your job is to be fair, to make sure that the powerless are defended properly, and yet you do the opposite: You show favoritism to the wicked at the expense of the weak.

שִׁפְטוּ דַל וְיָתוֹם עָנִי וָרָשׁ הַצְדִּיקוּ

The psalmist reminds the judges what their proper function should be: Do justice to the lowly and the orphan; vindicate the poor and destitute, even when they stand accused by powerful, wealthy people.

פַּלְּטוּ דַל וְאֶבְיוֹן מִיַּד רְשָׁעִים הַצִּילוּ

Rescue the lowly and the needy; save them from the hands of the wicked.

לֹא יָדְעוּ וְלֹא יָבִינוּ בַּחֲשֵׁכָה יִתְהַלָּכוּ יִמּוֹטוּ כָּל מוֹסְדֵי אָרֶץ

But they, the judges to whom the psalmist addresses his admonition, neither know nor understand, for they conduct themselves according to their own preconceptions. They walk about in darkness, unable to see the light of truth. Whether they act in secret or publicly, they are considered “walking in darkness” due to their unwillingness to see the truth, while all the foundations of the earth collapse. Their corrupt behavior threatens the very existence of society, which is founded upon the pillars of law and justice.

אֲנִי אָמַרְתִּי אֱלֹהִים אַתֶּם בְּנֵי עֶלְיוֹן כֻּלְּכֶם

Initially I had said: You are divine. The word elohim, translated here as “divine,” usually refers to God, but it can also be used to refer to angels and occasionally to judges (see verse 1). The psalmist here is admonishing the judges: Since you are called elohim, it is expected that you be faithful messengers of God, like celestial beings, angels, all of you executing His will among men.

אָכֵן כְּאָדָם תְּמוּתוּן וּכְאַחַד הַשָֹּרִים תִּפֹּלוּ

The psalmist now understands that he has been mistaken and that judges are mortal, not divine: Yet now I see that I was mistaken, and I see that you are not angels; as mortal men you will die; as any of the ministers you will fall. You do not represent divine power but rather personal ambition, and consequently, like all ministers and powerful men, your grandeur will not endure.

קוּמָה אֱלֹהִים שָׁפְטָה הָאָרֶץ כִּי אַתָּה תִנְחַל בְּכָל הַגּוֹיִם

The psalmist, disillusioned, closes with a plea to God: Arise, reveal Yourself, God, and judge the earth Yourself, Israelite and gentile alike, for You possess all nations.