Corpus Psalterium · Vol. I
Psalm VIII (8)
Cantillated — Refrain Praise
Paul Whitehorn
Study the Word
Psalm 8 in Hebrew and English, and the words as they are sung.
For the Chief Musician; on an instrument of Gath. A Psalm by David.
לַמְנַצֵּ֥חַ עַֽל־הַגִּתִּ֗ית מִזְמ֥וֹר לְדָוִֽד׃
Yahweh, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens!
יְהוָ֤ה אֲדֹנֵ֗ינוּ מָֽה־אַדִּ֣יר שִׁ֭מְךָ בְּכָל־הָאָ֑רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֥ר תְּנָ֥ה ה֝וֹדְךָ֗ עַל־הַשָּׁמָֽיִם׃
From the lips of babes and infants you have established strength, because of your adversaries, that you might silence the enemy and the avenger.
מִפִּ֤י עֽוֹלְלִ֨ים ׀ וְֽיֹנְקִים֮ יִסַּ֪דְתָּ֫ עֹ֥ז לְמַ֥עַן צוֹרְרֶ֑יךָ לְהַשְׁבִּ֥ית א֝וֹיֵ֗ב וּמִתְנַקֵּֽם׃
When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have ordained,
כִּֽי־אֶרְאֶ֣ה שָׁ֭מֶיךָ מַעֲשֵׂ֣י אֶצְבְּעֹתֶ֑יךָ יָרֵ֥חַ וְ֝כוֹכָבִ֗ים אֲשֶׁ֣ר כּוֹנָֽנְתָּה׃
what is man, that you think of him? What is the son of man, that you care for him?
מָֽה־אֱנ֥וֹשׁ כִּֽי־תִזְכְּרֶ֑נּוּ וּבֶן־אָ֝דָ֗ם כִּ֣י תִפְקְדֶֽנּוּ׃
For you have made him a little lower than the angels, and crowned him with glory and honor.
וַתְּחַסְּרֵ֣הוּ מְּ֭עַט מֵאֱלֹהִ֑ים וְכָב֖וֹד וְהָדָ֣ר תְּעַטְּרֵֽהוּ׃
You make him ruler over the works of your hands. You have put all things under his feet:
תַּ֭מְשִׁילֵהוּ בְּמַעֲשֵׂ֣י יָדֶ֑יךָ כֹּ֝ל שַׁ֣תָּה תַֽחַת־רַגְלָֽיו׃
All sheep and cattle, yes, and the animals of the field,
צֹנֶ֣ה וַאֲלָפִ֣ים כֻּלָּ֑ם וְ֝גַ֗ם בַּהֲמ֥וֹת שָׂדָֽי׃
the birds of the sky, the fish of the sea, and whatever passes through the paths of the seas.
צִפּ֣וֹר שָׁ֭מַיִם וּדְגֵ֣י הַיָּ֑ם עֹ֝בֵ֗ר אָרְח֥וֹת יַמִּֽים׃
Yahweh, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
יְהוָ֥ה אֲדֹנֵ֑ינוּ מָֽה־אַדִּ֥יר שִׁ֝מְךָ֗ בְּכָל־הָאָֽרֶץ׃
Hebrew: Westminster Leningrad Codex (public domain), from the Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible. English: World English Bible (public domain). Verse numbers follow the English Bible; the Hebrew numbering is shown beneath where it differs.
O Lord
our Lord
How majestic is Your name
in all the earth
How majestic is Your name
in all the earth
You have set Your glory
above the heavens
From the mouths
of children and babies
You have made strength
Because of Your enemies
To silence
the enemy
and the avenger
When I look
at Your heavens
The work
of Your fingers
The moon
and the stars
You set them in place
What is man
that You remember him
The son of man
that You care for him
What is man
what is man
You made him
a little lower
Lower than God
You crowned him
with glory and honor
You gave him rule
over what You made
You placed it all
under his feet
All the sheep
and oxen
All of them
The animals of the field
The birds of the sky
The fish in the sea
Everything that moves
through the waters
O Lord
our Lord
How majestic is Your name
in all the earth
How majestic is Your name
in all the earth
How majestic is Your name
O Lord
our Lord
How majestic
Your name
Lyrics by Paul Whitehorn: a singable English rendering of the Hebrew, as sung on this recording.
Corpus Psalterium sets each psalm to music by its Hebrew grammar. Didactic psalms teach; Cantillated psalms are spoken, sung or performed before God. Hear all 150 psalms free.