The Message Bible MSG
English Standard Version ESV
1 God calls the judges into his courtroom, he puts all the judges in the dock.
1
God has taken his place in the divine council; in the midst of the gods he holds judgment:
2 "Enough! You've corrupted justice long enough, you've let the wicked get away with murder.
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"How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked? Selah
3 You're here to defend the defenseless, to make sure that underdogs get a fair break;
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Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute.
4 Your job is to stand up for the powerless, and prosecute all those who exploit them."
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Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked."
5 Ignorant judges! Head-in-the-sand judges! They haven't a clue to what's going on. And now everything's falling apart, the world's coming unglued.
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They have neither knowledge nor understanding, they walk about in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken.
6 "I commissioned you judges, each one of you, deputies of the High God,
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I said, "You are gods, sons of the Most High, all of you;
7 But you've betrayed your commission and now you're stripped of your rank, busted."
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nevertheless, like men you shall die, and fall like any prince."
8 O God, give them their just deserts! You've got the whole world in your hands!
8
Arise, O God, judge the earth; for you shall inherit all the nations!
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.