Psalm 81.  Deus stetit

The evil judges
In a song that resembles the words of the prophets, the psalmist presents God in the role of mighty Judge, and describes his withering sentence over the unjust judges of his people.

The divine Judge

Deus stetit in synagóga deórum: * in médio autem deos dijúdicat.

God hath stood in the congregation of the gods : * he judgeth the gods in the midst thereof.

Accusation and judgment

2  Usquequo judicátis iniquitátem: * et fácies peccatórum súmitis?
3  Judicáte egéno, et pupíllo: * húmilem, et páuperem justificáte.
4  Erípite páuperem: * et egénum de manu peccatóris liberáte.

2  How long will ye give wrong judgment, * and accept the persons of the ungodly?
3  Defend the needy and fatherless; * do justice unto the humble and the poor.
4  Deliver the poor; * and save the needy from the hand of the ungodly.

Sentence

5  Nesciérunt, neque intellexérunt, in ténebris ámbulant: * movebúntur ómnia fundaménta terræ.
6  Ego dixi: Dii estis, * et fílii Excélsi omnes.
7  Vos autem sicut hómines moriémini: * et sicut unus de princípibus cadétis.

5  They have not known, neither did they understand, they walk on in darkness: * all the foundations of the earth shall be moved.
6  I have said, Ye are gods, * and ye are all the children of the Most Highest.
7  But ye like men shall die, * and shall fall like one of the princes.

Finale

8  Surge, Deus, júdica terram: * quóniam tu hereditábis in ómnibus Géntibus.

8  Arise, O God, and judge thou the earth; * for thou shalt take all nations to thine inheritance.