Psalm 8
The Majesty of God's Name
The psalmist praises the glorious name of God and His power manifested through the praise of the innocent.
O Lord, our dearest Lord, how wonderful your name is throughout the earth, full of honor, glorious, and greatly esteemed. Your power rises far above the brightness of heaven, just as Your divine being and Your eternal truth do. You have established your praise from the mouths of little children, so that you might bring down your corrupt enemies.
The Wonder of Human Significance
Reflecting on the vastness of the cosmos, the psalmist marvels at God's care for humanity and the dignity bestowed upon mankind.
When I look at your heavens, O Lord—the moon and the light of the stars— which you chose to create— What are human beings, that you remember us, O Lord of lords? What is a human being's child in this age, that you should visit him?1 You made him only a little lower than your exalted angels, raised him to great honor, and gave him dominion. You made them all subject to him: sheep, oxen, every animal, and the fish that move through the water—you let him rule them all.
A Final Doxology
The psalm concludes by returning to the opening refrain, affirming the wonder of God's name across the earth.
O Lord, our dearest Lord, how wonderful your name is throughout the earth, full of all honor, glorious and worthy of the highest praise.
Read the original Latin
O Heer ons alder liefste Heer Hoe wonderlijck op eerden Is dinen naem vol alder eer Heerlijck van groter weerden.
U moghentheyt te bouen gaet Bouen des hemels claerheyt V Godlijck wesen ende staet End oock v eewighe waerheyt.
Alwt der iongher kindren mont Wout ghi v lof verweruen Op dat ghi brenghen mocht te gront V vyanden bederuen
Want ick o Heer met mijn aensicht Dijn hemelen sal aenschouwen Die maen, end oock dat sterren licht. Die ghi hebt willen bouwen.
Wat is een mensch: dat ghi ons zijt Ghedachtich Heer der Heren? Eens menschen sone in deser tijt Dyen ghi wilt visiteren.
Ghi hebt hem weynich min gheacht Dan v enghelen hooch verheuen Tot grooter eeren hem ghebracht Hem regiment ghegheuen.
Ghi maectent hem al onderdaen Schapen, ossen, alle dieren, Die visschen die doer dwater gaen Die laet ghi hem regieren.
O Heer, ons alder liefste Heer Hoe wonderlijck opter aerden Is dinen naem, vol alder eer Heerlijck, van grooter waerden.
Notes
- 1 ↩Literally “a human being’s son”; the wording echoes the parallel phrase “son of man” in Psalm 8:4, but its indefinite form has been retained.
Souterliedekens (Psalm Songs) companion
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