The Lord’s Glory and Mankind’s Dignity
Psalm 8. A Psalm of David
Lord, our Lord, How majestic is Your name in all the earth,
You who have displayed Your splendor above the heavens! From the mouths of infants and nursing babies You have established strength Because of Your enemies, To do away with the enemy and the revengeful.
When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have set in place; What is man that You think of him, And a son of man that You are concerned about him?
Yet You have made him a little lower than God, And You crown him with glory and majesty! You have him rule over the works of Your hands; You have put everything under his feet, All sheep and oxen, And also the animals of the field,
The birds of the sky, and the fish of the sea, Whatever passes through the paths of the seas.
Lord, our Lord, How majestic is Your name in all the earth!
Sing to God, sing in praise of his name,
extol him who rides on the clouds;
rejoice before him—his name is the Lord.
A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows,
is God in his holy dwelling.
I exalt you, my God the King,
and bless your name forever and ever.
I will bless you every day;
I will praise your name forever and ever.
The Lord is great and is highly praised;
His greatness is unsearchable.
One generation will declare your works to the next and will proclaim your mighty acts.
I will speak of your splendor and glorious majesty and your wondrous works.
They will proclaim the power of your awe-inspiring acts, and I will declare your greatness.
They will give a testimony of your great goodness and will joyfully sing of your righteousness.
The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and great in faithful love.
The Lord is good to everyone;
His compassion rests on all he has made.
All you have made will thank you, Lord;
The faithful will bless you.
They will speak of the glory of your kingdom and will declare your might,
informing all people of your mighty acts and of the glorious splendor of your[f] kingdom.
Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom;
Your rule is for all generations.
The Lord is faithful in all his words and gracious in all his actions.
The Lord helps all who fall;
He raises up all who are oppressed.
All eyes look to you, and you give them their food at the proper time.
You open your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing.
The Lord is righteous in all his ways and faithful in all his acts.
The Lord is near all who call out to him, all who call out to him with integrity.
He fulfills the desires of those who fear him;
He hears their cry for help and saves them.
The Lord guards all those who love him, but he destroys all the wicked.
My mouth will declare the Lord’s praise; let every living thing bless his holy name forever and ever.