Psalm 8: Of Joy

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In this psalm, King David reflects with awe and a sense of gratitude on the world G-d has created and men’s place in it. Even when contemplating enemies, David sees G-d’s ability to divinely intervene in favour of His people. An intervention that has started when G-d created the universe according to the right times, just as G-d had created the sun and the moon and the starts to be the cockwork of the universe: “For I will see Your skies, the deeds of Your fingers, the moon and the stars which You have adjusted and tuned.” G-d created men with access to divinity, while needing to ensure that our feet are firmly grounded in the earth G-d has placed here for us: “You will govern him with the actions of Your hands, so that the foundation of existence is under his feet.”

While the Psalms towards the end of the book of Psalms are clearly distinguished as songs of praise for G-d, here we find one of King David’s earliest Psalms of praise. This is when Halleluiah was still not in his mind, and all he could muster up at this point was a song reflecting his drunken-like joy - his gitit. 

לַמְנַצֵּ֥חַ עַֽל־הַגִּתִּ֗ית מִזְמ֥וֹר לְדָוִֽד׃

To the conductor of the source of joy,

A Psalm for David;

ה’ אֲדֹנֵ֗ינוּ מָֽה־אַדִּ֣יר שִׁ֭מְךָ בְּכָל־הָאָ֑רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֥ר תְּנָ֥ה ה֝וֹדְךָ֗ עַל־הַשָּׁמָֽיִם׃

G-d, our Lord, how great is Your name in every landin which You will provide Your splendour over the skies. 

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

From the mouths of toddlers and nursing babiesYou have established valorTo be for those who come against You,

So enemies will be stopped and have vengeance upon themselves.

כִּֽי־אֶרְאֶ֣ה שָׁ֭מֶיךָ מַעֲשֵׂ֣י אֶצְבְּעֹתֶ֑יךָ יָרֵ֥חַ וְ֝כוֹכָבִ֗ים אֲשֶׁ֣ר כּוֹנָֽנְתָּה׃

For I will see Your skies, the deeds of Your fingers,

The moon and the stars which You have adjusted and tuned.

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

What is a human that You shall remember us?

And what is a man that You shall enumerate us.

וַתְּחַסְּרֵ֣הוּ מְּ֭עַט מֵאֱלֹקים וְכָב֖וֹד וְהָדָ֣ר תְּעַטְּרֵֽהוּ׃

And You have made him lacking only by a little from the Divine,

And with honor and glory You will adorn him. 

תַּ֭מְשִׁילֵהוּ בְּמַעֲשֵׂ֣י יָדֶ֑יךָ כֹּ֝ל שַׁ֣תָּה תַֽחַת־רַגְלָֽיו׃

You will govern him with the actions of Your hands,

So that the foundation of existence is under his feet.

צֹנֶ֣ה וַאֲלָפִ֣ים כֻּלָּ֑ם וְ֝גַ֗ם בַּהֲמ֥וֹת שָׂדָֽי׃

Sheep, all flocks in their thousands,

And all the nursing beasts,

צִפּ֣וֹר שָׁ֭מַיִם וּדְגֵ֣י הַיָּ֑ם עֹ֝בֵ֗ר אָרְח֥וֹת יַמִּֽים׃

The birds in the skies and the fish of the sea,

Have passed [lived through] generations.

ה’ אֲדֹנֵ֑ינוּ מָֽה־אַדִּ֥יר שִׁ֝מְךָ֗ בְּכָל־הָאָֽרֶץ׃

G-d, our Lord, 

How great is Your name in the whole world.