Psalm chapter 8
English Standard Version
1O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. 2 Out of the mouth of babies and infants, you have established strength because of your foes, to still the enemy and the avenger. 3When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, 4 what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him? 5Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. 6You have given him dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet, 7all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field, 8the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes along the paths of the seas. 9O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
New International Version
1For the director of music. According to gittith. A psalm of David. Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory in the heavens. 2Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger. 3When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
4what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them? 5You have made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor. 6You made them rulers over the works of your hands; you put everything under their feet: 7all flocks and herds, and the animals of the wild,
New American Standard Bible
1Lord, our Lord, How majestic is Your name in all the earth, You who have displayed Your splendor above the heavens! 2From the mouths of infants and nursing babies You have established strength Because of Your enemies, To do away with the enemy and the revengeful. 3When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have set in place; 4What is man that You think of him, And a son of man that You are concerned about him? 5Yet You have made him a little lower than God, And You crown him with glory and majesty! 6You have him rule over the works of Your hands; You have put everything under his feet, 7All sheep and oxen, And also the animals of the field, 8The birds of the sky, and the fish of the sea, Whatever passes through the paths of the seas. 9Lord, our Lord, How majestic is Your name in all the earth!
Christian Standard Bible
2From the mouths of infants and nursing babies, you have established a stronghold on account of your adversaries in order to silence the enemy and the avenger. 3When I observe your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you set in place, 4what is a human being that you remember him, a son of man that you look after him? 5You made him little less than God and crowned him with glory and honor. 6You made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under his feet: 7all the sheep and oxen, as well as the animals in the wild,
New Living Translation
1 O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth! Your glory is higher than the heavens. 2You have taught children and infants to tell of your strength, silencing your enemies and all who oppose you.
3When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers — the moon and the stars you set in place — 4what are mere mortals that you should think about them, human beings that you should care for them? 5Yet you made them only a little lower than God and crowned them with glory and honor. 6You gave them charge of everything you made, putting all things under their authority — 7the flocks and the herds and all the wild animals, 8the birds in the sky, the fish in the sea, and everything that swims the ocean currents.
King James Version
New King James Version
1{To the Chief Musician. On the instrument of Gath. A Psalm of David.} O Lord, our Lord, How excellent is Your name in all the earth, Who have set Your glory above the heavens! 2 Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have ordained strength, Because of Your enemies, That You may silence the enemy and the avenger. 3When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained, 4 What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him? 5For You have made him a little lower than the angels, And You have crowned him with glory and honor. 6 You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet, 7All sheep and oxen— Even the beasts of the field, 8The birds of the air, And the fish of the sea That pass through the paths of the seas. 9 O Lord, our Lord, How excellent is Your name in all the earth!
What does Psalm chapter 8 mean?
Psalm 8 is cited early in Hebrews (Hebrews 2:5–9) to defend the idea that God would send a human Savior. This passage praises God for His amazing power and creation, while marveling at the idea that such a being would give any further thought to something as frail and limited as man.The Psalmist, David, notes the incredible power God displays in nature. This echoes comments from Psalm 19:1 and even Romans 1:18–20. God's influence on the natural world is obvious, and it should lead people to recognize Him. Here in Psalm 8, a comparison is made between the scope of God's vast creation and the nature of humanity. The same God who made massive stars, an immense cosmos, and innumerable planets also made us. It's this contrast which amazes David, who is awed to think that God would care about insignificant people when He has also made such mighty things.
David is also amazed at the fact that God would grant such limited beings such an important role. These frail, limited beings are the ones God has chosen to superintend His creations (Genesis 1:28). Paul echoes a similar thought when explaining how God chose fragile human beings to carry the immense power of His gospel (2 Corinthians 4:7).
The awe this contrast inspires leads David to proclaim that God's name is truly "majestic," using a Hebrew term that means "excellent, exalted, or great."
