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

To the Director: On a stringed instrument.[a] A Davidic Psalm.

Divine Glory and Human Dignity

Lord, our Lord,
    how excellent is your name in all the earth!
        You set your glory above the heavens!
Out of the mouths of infants and nursing babies
    you have established strength[b]
        on account of your adversaries,
in order to silence the enemy and vengeful foe.

When I look at the heavens,
    the work of your fingers,
        the moon and the stars that you established—
what is man that you take notice of him,
    or the son of man[c] that you pay attention to him?
You made him a little less than divine,[d]
    but you crowned him with glory and honor.
You gave him dominion over the work of your hands,
    you put all things under his feet:
Sheep and cattle—all of them,
    wild creatures of the field,
birds in the sky,
    fish in the sea—
        whatever moves through the currents of the oceans.

Lord, our Lord,
    how excellent is your name in all the earth!

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 8:1 Or according to a Gittite melody
  2. Psalm 8:2 LXX reads praise
  3. Psalm 8:4 A title of Messiah (cf. Dan 7:13-14) or a Heb. synonym for a human being (cf. Dan 8:17)
  4. Psalm 8:5 Or God; or gods; or than heavenly beings