Psalms 81

Old Testament · Brenton Septuagint with Greek parallel

Psalms 81

1(82) A Psalm for Asaph. God stands in the assembly of gods; and in the midst of them will judge gods.Ψαλμὸς τῷ Ἀσάφ. Ὁ Θεὸς ἔστη ἐν συναγωγῇ θεῶν, ἐν μέσῳ δὲ θεοὺς διακρινεῖ.

2How long will you judge unrighteously, and accept the persons of sinners? Pause.Ἕως πότε κρίνετε ἀδικίαν, καὶ πρόσωπα ἁμαρτωλῶν λαμβάνετε; διάψαλμα.

3Judge the orphan and poor: * do justice to the low and needy.Κρίνατε ὀρφανὸν καὶ πτωχὸν, ταπεινὸν καὶ πένητα δικαιώσατε.

4Rescue the needy, and deliver the poor out of the hand of the sinner.Εξέλεσθε πένητα, καὶ πτωχὸν ἐκ χειρὸς ἁμαρτωλοῦ ῥύσασθε.

5They know not, nor understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth shall be shaken.Οὐκ ἔγνωσαν οὐδὲ συνῆκαν, ἐν σκότει διαπορεύονται· σαλευθήσονται πάντα τὰ θεμελια τῆς γῆς.

6I have said, You are gods; and all of you children of the Most High.Ἐγὼ εἶπα, θεοί ἐστε, καὶ υἱοὶ ὑψίστου πάντες.

7But you die as men, and fall as one of the princes.Ὑμεῖς δὲ ὡς ἄνθρωποι ἀποθνήσκετε, καὶ ὡς εἷς τῶν ἀρχόντων πίπτετε.

8Arise, O God, judge the earth: for you shall inherit all nations.Ἀνάστα ὁ Θεὸς, κρῖνον τὴν γῆν, ὅτι σὺ κατακληρονομήσεις ἐν πᾶσι τοῖς ἔθνεσιν.

Translator's Notes

These notes come from the printed edition of Sir Lancelot Brenton's classic English translation of the Septuagint (LXX), and record where the Greek differs from the English rendering or admits more than one reading.

• v. 3*Gr. justify.

The Fathers on Psalms 81

Saint Augustine of Hippo comments on this chapter. Each excerpt below is drawn from the full text held in the Fathers Library; follow the link on any entry to read the whole work.

On Psalms 81:1

Saint Augustine of Hippo

Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers · Fourth–fifth century · Expositions on the Psalms

1. This Psalm, like others similarly named, was so entitled either from the name of the man who wrote it, or from the explanation of that same name, so as to refer in meaning to the Synagogue, which Asaph signifies; especially as this is intimated in the first verse. For it begins, “God stood in the synagogue of gods” (ver. 1). Far however be it from us to understand by these Gods the gods of the Gentiles, or…

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On Psalms 81:2–4

Saint Augustine of Hippo

Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers · Fourth–fifth century · Expositions on the Psalms

3. “How long will ye judge unrighteously, and accept the persons of the ungodly” (ver. 2); as in another place, “How long are ye heavy in heart?” Until He shall come who is the light of the heart? I have given a law, ye have resisted stubbornly: I sent Prophets, ye treated them unjustly, or slew them, or connived at those who did so. But if they are not worthy to be even spoken to, who slew the servants of God…

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On Psalms 81:5–7

Saint Augustine of Hippo

Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers · Fourth–fifth century · Expositions on the Psalms

4. To all of them, verily, what follows is most fitly suited: “They did not know nor understand, they walk on in darkness” (ver. 5). “For if even they had known, they would never have crucified the Lord of glory:” and those others, if they had known, would never have consented to ask that Barabbas should be freed, and Christ should be crucified. But as the above-mentioned blindness happened in part unto Israel…

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On Psalms 81:8

Saint Augustine of Hippo

Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers · Fourth–fifth century · Expositions on the Psalms

5. And therefore that this vice may be cured, in the person of the Prophet himself it is said, “Arise, O God, and judge the earth” (ver. 8); for the earth swelled high when it crucified Thee: rise from the dead, and judge the earth. “For Thou shalt destroy among all nations.” What, but the earth? that is, destroying those who savour of earthly things, or destroying the feeling itself of earthly lust and pride in…

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