For the choir director: A psalm of David, to be accompanied by a stringed instrument.^a

1 O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth!
Your glory is higher than the heavens.
2 You have taught children and infants
to tell of your strength,^b
silencing your enemies
and all who oppose you.

3 When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers—
the moon and the stars you set in place—
4 what are mere mortals that you should think about them,
human beings that you should care for them?^c
5 Yet you made them only a little lower than God^d
and crowned them^e with glory and honor.
6 You gave them charge of everything you made,
putting all things under their authority—
7 the flocks and the herds
and all the wild animals,
8 the birds in the sky, the fish in the sea,
and everything that swims the ocean currents.

9 O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth!

a. 8:Title Hebrew according to the gittith.
b. 8:2 Greek version reads to give you praise. Compare Matt 21:16.
c. 8:4 Hebrew what is man that you should think of him, / the son of man that you should care for him?
d. 8:5a Or Yet you made them only a little lower than the angels; Hebrew reads Yet you made him [i.e., man] a little lower than Elohim.
e. 8:5b Hebrew him [i.e., man]; similarly in 8:6.