The Dignity of Man
Psalms 8
This psalm praises the greatness of the Lord's name throughout the earth and marvels that God is mindful of man, whom he has crowned with glory and honor and set in dominion over the sheep, oxen, birds, and fish.
About these editions
The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.
Thomson 1808Septuagint
Brenton 1851Septuagint
Greek · BrentonSeptuagint
KJV 1769Masoretic
JPS 1917Masoretic
1
Thomson—
BrentonFor the end, concerning the wine-presses, a Psalm of David.
GreekΕἰς τὸ τέλος, ὑπὲρ τῶν ληνῶν, ψαλμὸς τῷ Δαυίδ.
KJV—
JPSFor the Leader; upon the Gittith. A Psalm of David.
2
ThomsonO LORD, our Lord, how Thy name ought to be admired in all the earth, since Thine excellence is exalted above the heavens!
BrentonO Lord, our Lord, how wonderful is thy name in all the earth! for thy magnificence is exalted above the heavens.
GreekΚύριε ὁ Κύριος ἡμῶν, ὡς θαυμαστὸν τὸ ὄνομά σου ἐν πάσῃ τῇ γῇ; ὅτι ἐπῄρθη ἡ μεγαλοπρέπειά σου ὑπεράνω τῶν οὐρανῶν.
KJVO LORD, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens.
JPSO LORD, our Lord, How glorious is Thy name in all the earth! Whose majesty is rehearsed above the heavens.
3
ThomsonFrom the mouth of babes and sucklings Thou hast perfected praise, on account of Thine enemies—[on account] of destroying an enemy and a revenger.
BrentonOut of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou perfected praise, because of thine enemies; that thou mightest put down the enemy and avenger.
GreekἘκ στόματος νηπίων καὶ θηλαζόντων κατηρτίσω αἶνον· ἕνεκα τῶν ἐχθρῶν σου, τοῦ καταλῦσαι ἐχθρὸν καὶ ἐκδικητήν.
KJVOut of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.
JPSOut of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast Thou founded strength, Because of Thine adversaries; That Thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.
4
ThomsonWhen I behold the heavens, the work of Thy fingers—the moon and stars which Thou hast established,
BrentonFor I will regard the heavens, the work of thy fingers; the moon and stars, which thou hast established.
GreekὍτι ὄψομαι τοὺς οὐρανοὺς ἔργα τῶν δακτύλων σου, σελήνην καὶ ἀστέρας, ἃ σὺ ἐθεμελίωσας·
KJVWhen I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;
JPSWhen I behold Thy heavens, the work of Thy fingers, The moon and the stars, which Thou hast established;
5
Thomsonwhat is man that Thou shouldst be mindful of him, or a son of man that Thou shouldst visit him!
BrentonWhat is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him?
GreekΤί ἐστιν ἄνθρωπος, ὅτι μιμνήσκῃ αὐτοῦ; ἢ υἱὸς ἀνθρώπου, ὅτι ἐπισκέπτῃ αὐτόν;
KJVWhat is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?
JPSWhat is man, that Thou art mindful of him? And the son of man, that Thou thinkest of him?
6
ThomsonThou madest him a little lower than angels, with glory and honour Thou hast crowned him,
BrentonThou madest him a little less than angels, thou hast crowned him with glory and honour;
GreekἨλάττωσας αὐτὸν βραχύ τι παρʼ ἀγγέλους, δόξῃ καὶ τιμῇ ἐστεφάνωσας αὐτὸν,
KJVFor thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.
JPSYet Thou hast made him but little lower than the angels, And hast crowned him with glory and honour.
7
Thomsonand set him over the works of Thy hands. Thou hast put all things under his feet—
Brentonand thou hast set him over the works of thy hands: thou hast put all things under his feet:
Greekκαὶ κατέστησας αὐτὸν ἐπὶ τὰ ἔργα τῶν χειρῶν σου· πάντα ὑπέταξας ὑποκάτω τῶν ποδῶν αὐτοῦ,
KJVThou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:
JPSThou hast made him to have dominion over the works of Thy hands; Thou hast put all things under His feet:
8
Thomsonflocks and herds of all sorts—also the beasts of the field—
Brentonsheep and all oxen, yea, and the cattle of the field;
Greekπρόβατα καὶ βόας πάσας, ἔτι δὲ καὶ τὰ κτήνη τοῦ πεδίου,
KJVAll sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field;
JPSSheep and oxen, all of them, Yea, and the beasts of the field;
9
Thomsonthe birds of the air, and fishes of the sea—whatever travel the paths of the seas.
Brentonthe birds of the sky, and the fish of the sea, the creatures passing through the paths of the sea.
Greekτὰ πετεινὰ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ, καὶ τοὺς ἰχθύας τῆς θαλάσσης, τὰ διαπορευόμενα τρίβους θαλασσῶν.
KJVThe fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.
JPSThe fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea; Whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.
10
ThomsonO Lord, our Lord, how Thy name ought to be admired in all the earth!
BrentonO Lord our Lord, how wonderful is thy name in all the earth!
GreekΚύριε ὁ Κύριος ἡμῶν, ὡς θαυμαστὸν ὄνομά σου ἐν πάσῃ τῇ γῇ;
KJVO LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!
JPSO LORD, our Lord, How glorious is Thy name in all the earth!