Psalms – Chapter 8

Old Testament10 Verses

1Unto the end, for the presses: a psalm for David.

2O Lord, our Lord, how admirable is thy name in the whole earth! For thy magnificence is elevated above the heavens.

3Out of the mouth of infants and of sucklings thou hast perfected praise, because of thy enemies, that thou mayst destroy the enemy and the avenger.

4For I will behold thy heavens, the works of thy fingers: the moon and the stars which thou hast founded.

5What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him?

6Thou hast made him a little less than the angels, thou hast crowned him with glory and honour:

7And hast set him over the works of thy hands.

8Thou hast subjected all things under his feet, all sheep and oxen: moreover, the beasts also of the fields.

9The birds of the air, and the fishes of the sea, that pass through the paths of the sea.

10O Lord, our Lord, how admirable is thy name in the whole earth!

Reflection for Today

The message of Psalms Chapter 8 unfolds within the broader narrative of prayer, praise, and the full range of human emotion before God. Catholic theology, drawing on the Psalms are the prayer book of the Church, prayed daily in the Liturgy of the Hours (CIC 2585-2589), sees in this chapter a call to deeper faith. The principle that God invites us to bring all our emotions to Him guides our interpretation.

The Church Fathers, including St. Augustine, St. Jerome, and St. John Chrysostom, devoted themselves to explaining Scripture for the faithful. Their insights, preserved in the Church's Tradition, continue to illuminate our reading. The Catechism reminds us that "the Church has always venerated the divine Scriptures as she venerated the Body of the Lord" (CIC 103).

As you engage with this chapter, bring your questions, struggles, and hopes to the text. God's Word addresses the whole person—mind, heart, and will. Through the sacraments, especially the Eucharist, we receive the grace to live what we read. May this chapter strengthen your faith and deepen your love for Christ and His Church.

💡Catholic Reflection • Church Teachings

Deepen your understanding with these related articles