Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

Psalm 8

To the Chief Musician; set to a Philistine lute, or [possibly] to a particular Hittite tune. A Psalm of David.

¹ O Lord, our Lord, how excellent (majestic and glorious) is Your name in all the earth! You have set Your glory on [or above] the heavens.

² Out of the mouths of babes and unweaned infants You have established strength because of Your foes, that You might silence the enemy and the avenger.^(A)

³ When I view and consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained and established,

⁴ What is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of [earthborn] man that You care for him?

⁵ Yet You have made him but a little lower than God [or heavenly beings], and You have crowned him with glory and honor.

⁶ You made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet:^(B)

⁷ All sheep and oxen, yes, and the beasts of the field,

⁸ The birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatever passes along the paths of the seas.

⁹ O Lord, our Lord, how excellent (majestic and glorious) is Your name in all the earth!

²² Have you entered the treasuries of the snow, or have you seen the treasuries of the hail,

²³ Which I have reserved for the time of trouble, for the day of battle and war?^(A)

²⁴ By what way is the light distributed, or the east wind spread over the earth?

²⁵ Who has prepared a channel for the torrents of rain, or a path for the thunderbolt,

²⁶ To cause it to rain on the uninhabited land [and] on the desert where no man lives,

²⁷ To satisfy the waste and desolate ground and to cause the tender grass to spring forth?

²⁸ Has the rain a father? Or who has begotten the drops of dew?

²⁹ Out of whose womb came the ice? And the hoary frost of heaven, who has given it birth?

³⁰ The waters are congealed like stone, and the face of the deep is frozen.

³¹ Can you bind the chains of [the cluster of stars called] Pleiades, or loose the cords of [the constellation] Orion?

³² Can you lead forth the signs of the zodiac in their season? Or can you guide [the stars of] the Bear with her young?

³³ Do you know the ordinances of the heavens? Can you establish their rule upon the earth?

³⁴ Can you lift up your voice to the clouds, so that an abundance of waters may cover you?

³⁵ Can you send lightnings, that they may go and say to you, Here we are?

³⁶ Who has put wisdom in the inward parts [or in the dark clouds]? Or who has given understanding to the mind [or to the meteor]?

³⁷ Who can number the clouds by wisdom? Or who can pour out the [water] bottles of the heavens

³⁸ When [heat has caused] the dust to run into a mass and the clods to cleave fast together?

¹⁵ If you [really] love Me, you will keep (obey) My commands.

¹⁶ And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, and Standby), that He may remain with you forever—

¹⁷ The Spirit of Truth, Whom the world cannot receive (welcome, take to its heart), because it does not see Him or know and recognize Him. But you know and recognize Him, for He lives with you [constantly] and will be in you.