New International Version“The ‘gods’ know nothing, they understand nothing. They walk about in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken.
New Living TranslationBut these oppressors know nothing; they are so ignorant! They wander about in darkness, while the whole world is shaken to the core.
English Standard VersionThey have neither knowledge nor understanding, they walk about in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken.
Berean Standard BibleThey do not know or understand; they wander in the darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken.
King James BibleThey know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course.
New King James VersionThey do not know, nor do they understand; They walk about in darkness; All the foundations of the earth are unstable.
New American Standard BibleThey do not know nor do they understand; They walk around in darkness; All the foundations of the earth are shaken.
NASB 1995They do not know nor do they understand; They walk about in darkness; All the foundations of the earth are shaken.
NASB 1977They do not know nor do they understand; They walk about in darkness; All the foundations of the earth are shaken.
Legacy Standard BibleThey do not know and do not understand; They walk about in darkness; All the foundations of the earth are shaken.
Amplified BibleThe rulers do not know nor do they understand; They walk on in the darkness [of complacent satisfaction]; All the foundations of the earth [the fundamental principles of the administration of justice] are shaken.
Christian Standard BibleThey do not know or understand; they wander in darkness. All the foundations of the earth are shaken.
Holman Christian Standard BibleThey do not know or understand; they wander in darkness. All the foundations of the earth are shaken.
American Standard VersionThey know not, neither do they understand; They walk to and fro in darkness: All the foundations of the earth are shaken.
Contemporary English Version"None of you know or understand a thing. You live in darkness, while the foundations of the earth tremble.
English Revised VersionThey know not, neither do they understand; they walk to and fro in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are moved.
GOD'S WORD® TranslationWicked people do not know or understand anything. As they walk around in the dark, all the foundations of the earth shake.
Good News Translation"How ignorant you are! How stupid! You are completely corrupt, and justice has disappeared from the world.
International Standard VersionThey neither know nor understand; they walk about in the dark while all the foundations of the earth are shaken.
NET BibleThey neither know nor understand. They stumble around in the dark, while all the foundations of the earth crumble.
New Heart English BibleThey do not know, neither do they understand. They walk back and forth in darkness. All the foundations of the earth are shaken.
Webster's Bible TranslationThey know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleThey do not know or understand; they wander in the darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken.
World English BibleThey don’t know, neither do they understand. They walk back and forth in darkness. All the foundations of the earth are shaken. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionThey did not know, nor do they understand, "" They habitually walk in darkness, "" All the foundations of earth are moved.
Young's Literal Translation They knew not, nor do they understand, In darkness they walk habitually, Moved are all the foundations of earth.
Smith's Literal TranslationThey will not know, they will not Understand: they will go about in darkness: all the foundations of the earth will be moved. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleThey have not known nor understood: they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth shall be moved.
Catholic Public Domain VersionThey did not know and did not understand. They wander in darkness. All the foundations of the earth will be moved.
New American Bible
The gods neither know nor understand, wandering about in darkness, and all the world’s foundations shake.
New Revised Standard Version
They have neither knowledge nor understanding, they walk around in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken.Translations from Aramaic Lamsa Bible
They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken.
Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
For they have not known neither are they wise; they have been walking in darkness and all the foundations of the Earth are moved!OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917
They know not, neither do they understand; They go about in darkness; All the foundations of the earth are moved.
Brenton Septuagint Translation
They know not, nor understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth shall be shaken.
Additional Translations ... Audio Bible
Context God Presides in the Divine Assembly… 4Rescue the weak and needy; save them from the hand of the wicked. 5They do notknowor understand;they wanderin the darkness;allthe foundationsof the earthare shaken.6I have said, ‘You are gods; you are all sons of the Most High.’…
Cross References Isaiah 59:9-10Therefore justice is far from us, and righteousness does not reach us. We hope for light, but there is darkness; for brightness, but we walk in gloom. / Like the blind, we feel our way along the wall, groping like those without eyes. We stumble at midday as in the twilight; among the vigorous we are like the dead.
Hosea 4:1-6Hear the word of the LORD, O children of Israel, for the LORD has a case against the people of the land: “There is no truth, no loving devotion, and no knowledge of God in the land! / Cursing and lying, murder and stealing, and adultery are rampant; one act of bloodshed follows another. / Therefore the land mourns, and all who dwell in it will waste away with the beasts of the field and the birds of the air; even the fish of the sea disappear. ...
John 12:35-36Then Jesus told them, “For a little while longer, the Light will be among you. Walk while you have the Light, so that darkness will not overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. / While you have the Light, believe in the Light, so that you may become sons of light.” After Jesus had spoken these things, He went away and was hidden from them.
Matthew 15:14Disregard them! They are blind guides. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit.”
Romans 1:21-22For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking and darkened in their foolish hearts. / Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools,
Ephesians 4:17-18So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. / They are darkened in their understanding and alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardness of their hearts.
Jeremiah 4:22“For My people are fools; they have not known Me. They are foolish children, without understanding. They are skilled in doing evil, but they know not how to do good.”
Proverbs 4:19But the way of the wicked is like the darkest gloom; they do not know what makes them stumble.
2 Corinthians 4:3-4And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. / The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
Isaiah 6:9-10And He replied: “Go and tell this people, ‘Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’ / Make the hearts of this people calloused; deafen their ears and close their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.”
John 1:5The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
1 John 2:11But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness. He does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
Isaiah 44:18They do not comprehend or discern, for He has shut their eyes so they cannot see and closed their minds so they cannot understand.
Matthew 23:16-17Woe to you, blind guides! You say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.’ / You blind fools! Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that makes it sacred?
Acts 26:17-18I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them / to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those sanctified by faith in Me.’
Treasury of Scripture They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course. they. Psalm 53:4
Have the workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my peopleas they eat bread: they have not called upon God. Proverbs 1:29
For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD: Micah 3:1
And I said, Hear, I pray you, O heads of Jacob, and ye princes of the house of Israel;Is it not for you to know judgment? walk Proverbs 2:13
Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness; Proverbs 4:19
The way of the wickedis as darkness: they know not at what they stumble. Ecclesiastes 2:14
The wise man's eyesare in his head; but the fool walketh in darkness: and I myself perceived also that one event happeneth to them all. all the. Psalm 11:3
If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do? Psalm 75:3
The earth and all the inhabitants thereof are dissolved: I bear up the pillars of it. Selah. Ecclesiastes 3:16
And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment,that wickednesswas there; and the place of righteousness,that iniquitywas there. out of course. Jump to Previous BasesCourseDarkDarknessEarthForthFoundationsFroHabituallyMovedSenseShakenUnderstandUnderstandingWalkJump to Next BasesCourseDarkDarknessEarthForthFoundationsFroHabituallyMovedSenseShakenUnderstandUnderstandingWalkPsalm 82 1.The psalmist, having exhorted the judges5.And reproved their negligence8.Prays God to judgeThey do not know or understand;This phrase highlights the spiritual ignorance and lack of discernment among the leaders or judges being addressed. In biblical context, this ignorance is often attributed to a rejection of God's wisdom and law. Proverbs 1:7 states, "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge," indicating that true understanding comes from reverence for God. The leaders' failure to know or understand suggests a departure from divine guidance, which is a recurring theme in the Old Testament, where Israel's leaders often led the people astray due to their own lack of understanding ( Hosea 4:6). they wander in the darkness;
Darkness in Scripture frequently symbolizes sin, ignorance, and separation from God. InJohn 8:12, Jesus declares, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." This contrast between light and darkness underscores the leaders' spiritual blindness and moral failure. The imagery of wandering suggests aimlessness and confusion, reminiscent of Israel's wilderness wanderings due to disobedience (Numbers 14:33-34). This phrase serves as a warning of the consequences of turning away from God's truth. all the foundations of the earth are shaken.
The foundations of the earth represent the established order and justice that God intended for creation. When leaders fail in their duties, it disrupts societal stability and justice, leading to chaos and disorder. This shaking of foundations can be seen as a metaphor for the moral and social upheaval that results from corrupt leadership. In prophetic literature, such asIsaiah 24:18-20, the shaking of the earth often signifies divine judgment and the coming of God's kingdom. This phrase foreshadows the ultimate restoration and justice that will be established through Christ, who is described as the cornerstone inEphesians 2:20, ensuring the stability and righteousness of God's eternal kingdom. Persons / Places / Events 1. GodThe ultimate judge who presides over the divine council, addressing the failures of earthly judges. 2. Earthly JudgesThe human leaders or judges who are being admonished for their lack of justice and understanding. 3. Divine CouncilA heavenly assembly where God holds the judges accountable for their actions. 4. Foundations of the EarthSymbolic of the order and stability of society, which is threatened by injustice. 5. DarknessRepresents ignorance and moral confusion, a state in which the judges are said to wander. Teaching Points The Importance of JusticeGod holds leaders accountable for their role in upholding justice. As Christians, we should advocate for fairness and righteousness in our communities. Spiritual AwarenessIgnorance and lack of understanding lead to moral darkness. We must seek wisdom and discernment through prayer and study of God's Word. Impact of LeadershipThe failure of leaders to act justly can destabilize society. We should pray for and support leaders who pursue godly principles. Personal ResponsibilityWhile leaders are accountable, individuals also have a responsibility to live justly and seek truth, avoiding the darkness of ignorance. Foundation of TruthThe stability of our lives and communities depends on adherence to God's truth. We must build our lives on the solid foundation of Scripture. Lists and Questions Top 10 Lessons from Psalm 82
How can one be light in the Lord?
How can Psalm 11:3’s concern about “foundations” be reconciled with historical and scientific evidence for societal progress rather than total collapse?
How does a lamp guide my path?
How can the earth be 'set on its foundations, never to be moved' (Psalm 104:5) if our planet orbits the sun and moves through space?(5) Here we imagine a pause, that interval between warning and judgment which is God's pity and man's opportunity; but the expostulation falls dead without a response. The men are infatuated by their position and blinded by their pride, and the poet, the spectator of this drama of judgment, makes this common reflection. The perversion of judgment strikes him, as it could not fail to do, as an indication of total anarchy and a dissolution of society, a convulsion like an earthquake. They know not.--Comp.Psalm 58:4, "They have no knowledge;" there, too, of judges corrupted by the moral blindness which, as in the case of Lord Bacon, sometimes so strangely darkens those in whom intellectual light is most keen. They walk on in darkness--Or, better,They let themselves walk in darkness;the conjugation implying that inclination or will, and not circumstance, brings this dullness to the dictates of justice and right. All the foundations . . .--The very existence of society is threatened when the source of justice is corrupt. "Back flow the sacred rivers to their source, And right and all things veer around their course; Crafty are men in council, and no more God-plighted faith abides as once of yore." EUR.Med.,409. Verse 5. - They know not, neither will they understand. Scarcely "an aside from the indignant judge," as Professor Cheyne suggests, much less a remark interpolated by the poet (Ewald, Hitzig). Rather a complaint of human perversity, addressed by Jehovah to the angelic host who are present (ver. 1). It is not an accidental and excusable ignorance, but a wilful and guilty one that is spoken cf. They walk on in darkness. Loving darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil ( John 3:19), they walked in the way of darkness ( Proverbs 2:13). All the foundations of the earth are out of course; rather, are shaken. The fundamental bases on which the life of man upon the earth rests, the very principles of morality, are shaken, and totter to their fail, when those whose place it is to administer justice pervert it and deal out injustice instead.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew They do notלֹ֤א(lō)Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808:Not, noknowיָֽדְע֨וּ ׀(yā·ḏə·‘ū)Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 3045:To knowor understand;יָבִ֗ינוּ(yā·ḇî·nū)Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 995:To separate mentally, understandthey wanderיִתְהַלָּ֑כוּ(yiṯ·hal·lā·ḵū)Verb - Hitpael - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 1980:To go, come, walkin the darkness;בַּחֲשֵׁכָ֥ה(ba·ḥă·šê·ḵāh)Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 2825:Darkness, miseryallכָּל־(kāl-)Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605:The whole, all, any, everythe foundationsמ֥וֹסְדֵי(mō·ws·ḏê)Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 4144:A foundationof the earthאָֽרֶץ׃(’ā·reṣ)Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776:Earth, landare shaken.”יִ֝מּ֗וֹטוּ(yim·mō·w·ṭū)Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 4131:To waver, to slip, shake, fall
Links Psalm 82:5 NIVPsalm 82:5 NLTPsalm 82:5 ESVPsalm 82:5 NASBPsalm 82:5 KJV
Psalm 82:5 BibleApps.comPsalm 82:5 Biblia ParalelaPsalm 82:5 Chinese BiblePsalm 82:5 French BiblePsalm 82:5 Catholic Bible
OT Poetry: Psalm 82:5 They don't know neither do they understand (Psalm Ps Psa.) |
