Print Page Options Listen to Psalm 8

Psalm 8[a]

For the director of music. According to gittith.[b] A psalm of David.

Lord, our Lord,
    how majestic is your name(A) in all the earth!

You have set your glory(B)
    in the heavens.(C)
Through the praise of children and infants
    you have established a stronghold(D) against your enemies,
    to silence the foe(E) and the avenger.
When I consider your heavens,(F)
    the work of your fingers,(G)
the moon and the stars,(H)
    which you have set in place,
what is mankind that you are mindful of them,
    human beings that you care for them?[c](I)

You have made them[d] a little lower than the angels[e](J)
    and crowned them[f] with glory and honor.(K)
You made them rulers(L) over the works of your hands;(M)
    you put everything under their[g] feet:(N)
all flocks and herds,(O)
    and the animals of the wild,(P)
the birds in the sky,
    and the fish in the sea,(Q)
    all that swim the paths of the seas.

Lord, our Lord,
    how majestic is your name in all the earth!(R)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 8:1 In Hebrew texts 8:1-9 is numbered 8:2-10.
  2. Psalm 8:1 Title: Probably a musical term
  3. Psalm 8:4 Or what is a human being that you are mindful of him, / a son of man that you care for him?
  4. Psalm 8:5 Or him
  5. Psalm 8:5 Or than God
  6. Psalm 8:5 Or him
  7. Psalm 8:6 Or made him ruler . . . ; / . . . his

The Glory of the Lord in Creation

To the Chief Musician. [a]On the instrument of Gath. A Psalm of David.

O Lord, our Lord,
How (A)excellent is Your name in all the earth,
Who have (B)set Your glory above the heavens!

(C)Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants
You have [b]ordained strength,
Because of Your enemies,
That You may silence (D)the enemy and the avenger.

When I (E)consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers,
The moon and the stars, which You have ordained,
(F)What is man that You are mindful of him,
And the son of man that You (G)visit[c] him?
For You have made him a little lower than [d]the angels,
And You have crowned him with glory and honor.

(H)You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands;
(I)You have put all things under his feet,
All sheep and oxen—
Even the beasts of the field,
The birds of the air,
And the fish of the sea
That pass through the paths of the seas.

(J)O Lord, our Lord,
How excellent is Your name in all the earth!

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 8:1 Heb. Al Gittith
  2. Psalm 8:2 established
  3. Psalm 8:4 give attention to or care for
  4. Psalm 8:5 Heb. Elohim, God; LXX, Syr., Tg., Jewish tradition angels

Psalm 8

For the choir director: A psalm of David, to be accompanied by a stringed instrument.[a]

O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth!
    Your glory is higher than the heavens.
You have taught children and infants
    to tell of your strength,[b]
silencing your enemies
    and all who oppose you.

When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers—
    the moon and the stars you set in place—
what are mere mortals that you should think about them,
    human beings that you should care for them?[c]
Yet you made them only a little lower than God[d]
    and crowned them[e] with glory and honor.
You gave them charge of everything you made,
    putting all things under their authority—
the flocks and the herds
    and all the wild animals,
the birds in the sky, the fish in the sea,
    and everything that swims the ocean currents.

O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth!

Footnotes

  1. 8:Title Hebrew according to the gittith.
  2. 8:2 Greek version reads to give you praise. Compare Matt 21:16.
  3. 8:4 Hebrew what is man that you should think of him, / the son of man that you should care for him?
  4. 8:5a Or Yet you made them only a little lower than the angels; Hebrew reads Yet you made him [i.e., man] a little lower than Elohim.
  5. 8:5b Hebrew him [i.e., man]; similarly in 8:6.

God's Glory and Human Dignity[a]

O Lord, our Lord,
    your greatness is seen in all the world!
Your praise reaches up to the heavens;
(A)it is sung by children and babies.
You are safe and secure from all your enemies;
    you stop anyone who opposes you.

When I look at the sky, which you have made,
    at the moon and the stars, which you set in their places—
(B)what are human beings, that you think of them;
    mere mortals, that you care for them?

(C)Yet you made them inferior only to yourself;[b]
    you crowned them with glory and honor.
(D)You appointed them rulers over everything you made;
    you placed them over all creation:
    sheep and cattle, and the wild animals too;
    the birds and the fish
    and the creatures in the seas.

O Lord, our Lord,
    your greatness is seen in all the world!

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 8:1 HEBREW TITLE: A psalm by David.
  2. Psalm 8:5 yourself; or the gods, or the angels.

Psalm 8

Divine Majesty and Human Dignity

To the leader: according to The Gittith. A Psalm of David.

O Lord, our Sovereign,
    how majestic is your name in all the earth!

You have set your glory above the heavens.(A)
    Out of the mouths of babes and infants
you have founded a bulwark because of your foes,
    to silence the enemy and the avenger.(B)

When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,
    the moon and the stars that you have established;(C)
what are humans that you are mindful of them,
    mortals[a] that you care for them?(D)

Yet you have made them a little lower than God[b]
    and crowned them with glory and honor.(E)
You have given them dominion over the works of your hands;
    you have put all things under their feet,(F)
all sheep and oxen,
    and also the beasts of the field,
the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea,
    whatever passes along the paths of the seas.

O Lord, our Sovereign,
    how majestic is your name in all the earth!(G)

Footnotes

  1. 8.4 Heb son of man
  2. 8.5 Or than the divine beings or angels