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Christian prayer

Psalm 8

Psalm 8 in its original text and with its meaning, praising God's majesty and reflecting on humanity's place in creation.

  • 9 verses
  • Under a minute to recite
  • From the Bible
  1. 1

    To the chief Musician upon Gittith, A Psalm of David. O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens.

  2. 2

    Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.

  3. 3

    When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;

  4. 4

    What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?

  5. 5

    For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.

  6. 6

    Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:

  7. 7

    All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field;

  8. 8

    The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.

  9. 9

    O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!

The Hebrew original

1 לַמְנַצֵּ֥חַ עַֽל־הַגִּתִּ֗ית מִזְמ֥וֹר לְדָוִֽד׃

2 יְהוָ֤ה אֲדֹנֵ֗ינוּ מָֽה־אַדִּ֣יר שִׁ֭מְךָ בְּכָל־הָאָ֑רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֥ר תְּנָ֥ה ה֝וֹדְךָ֗ עַל־הַשָּׁמָֽיִם׃

3 מִפִּ֤י עֽוֹלְלִ֨ים ׀ וְֽיֹנְקִים֮ יִסַּ֪דְתָּ֫ עֹ֥ז לְמַ֥עַן צוֹרְרֶ֑יךָ לְהַשְׁבִּ֥ית א֝וֹיֵ֗ב וּמִתְנַקֵּֽם׃

4 כִּֽי־אֶרְאֶ֣ה שָׁ֭מֶיךָ מַעֲשֵׂ֣י אֶצְבְּעֹתֶ֑יךָ יָרֵ֥חַ וְ֝כוֹכָבִ֗ים אֲשֶׁ֣ר כּוֹנָֽנְתָּה׃

5 מָֽה־אֱנ֥וֹשׁ כִּֽי־תִזְכְּרֶ֑נּוּ וּבֶן־אָ֝דָ֗ם כִּ֣י תִפְקְדֶֽנּוּ׃

6 וַתְּחַסְּרֵ֣הוּ מְּ֭עַט מֵאֱלֹהִ֑ים וְכָב֖וֹד וְהָדָ֣ר תְּעַטְּרֵֽהוּ׃

7 תַּ֭מְשִׁילֵהוּ בְּמַעֲשֵׂ֣י יָדֶ֑יךָ כֹּ֝ל שַׁ֣תָּה תַֽחַת־רַגְלָֽיו׃

8 צֹנֶ֣ה וַאֲלָפִ֣ים כֻּלָּ֑ם וְ֝גַ֗ם בַּהֲמ֥וֹת שָׂדָֽי׃

9 צִפּ֣וֹר שָׁ֭מַיִם וּדְגֵ֣י הַיָּ֑ם עֹ֝בֵ֗ר אָרְח֥וֹת יַמִּֽים׃

10 יְהוָ֥ה אֲדֹנֵ֑ינוּ מָֽה־אַדִּ֥יר שִׁ֝מְךָ֗ בְּכָל־הָאָֽרֶץ׃

Wording: The Holy Bible, King James Version, 1611 (standard text of 1769). Copied word for word from the edition named here

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When it is prayed

Many Christians recite Psalm 8 in worship or personal prayer to praise God for creation. It is also fitting for moments of wonder at the night sky or reflection on human dignity and responsibility. In the Christian tradition, its words also invite reflection on Christ.

  • Worship
  • Personal prayer
  • Wonder at creation
  • Reflecting on humanity

Where it comes from

Psalm 8 comes from the Book of Psalms in the Bible and was originally composed in Hebrew. Its heading associates it with David. The New Testament quotes it in reflection on Jesus and humanity's place in God's purposes.

In the libraryThe King James Version of the BibleSee the book

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Questions about Psalm 8

How many verses are in Psalm 8?

Psalm 8 has 9 verses.

What does Psalm 8 mean?

It praises God's majesty, revealed in creation, and marvels that God cares for human beings. It also describes humanity's dignity and responsibility to care for what God has made.

Who wrote Psalm 8?

Its heading associates it with David, and it is traditionally known as a psalm of David.

How long does Psalm 8 take to recite?

Psalm 8 can be recited in under a minute, though a slower, reflective reading may take longer.

When can I pray Psalm 8?

You can pray it during worship or personal prayer, especially when giving thanks for creation or reflecting on humanity's place within it.

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