5 "The 'gods' know nothing, they understand nothing. They walk about in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken.
5 They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course.
5 They have neither knowledge nor understanding, they walk about in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken.
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.
5 They do not know, nor do they understand; They walk about in darkness; All the foundations of the earth are unstable.
5 But these oppressors know nothing; they are so ignorant! They wander about in darkness, while the whole world is shaken to the core.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Psalm 82:5
Commentary on Psalm 82:1-5
(Read Psalm 82:1-5)
Magistrates are the mighty in authority for the public good. Magistrates are the ministers of God's providence, for keeping up order and peace, and particularly in punishing evil-doers, and protecting those that do well. Good princes and good judges, who mean well, are under Divine direction; and bad ones, who mean ill, are under Divine restraint. The authority of God is to be submitted to, in those governors whom his providence places over us. But when justice is turned from what is right, no good can be expected. The evil actions of public persons are public mischiefs.