Font Size
Psalm 8:2-4
New English Translation
Psalm 8:2-4
New English Translation
2 From the mouths of children and nursing babies
you have ordained praise on account of your adversaries,[a]
so that you might put an end to the vindictive enemy.[b]
3 When I look up at the heavens, which your fingers made,
and see the moon and the stars, which you set in place,[c]
4 Of what importance is the human race,[d] that you should notice[e] them?
Of what importance is mankind,[f] that you should pay attention to them?[g]
Footnotes
- Psalm 8:2 tn Heb “you establish strength because of your foes.” The meaning of the statement is unclear. The present translation follows the reading of the LXX which has “praise” (αἶνος, ainos) in place of “strength” (עֹז, ʿoz); cf. NIV, NCV, NLT.
- Psalm 8:2 tn Heb “to cause to cease an enemy and an avenger.” The singular forms are collective. The Hitpael participle of נָקַם (naqam) also occurs in Ps 44:16.
- Psalm 8:3 tn Heb “when I see your heavens, the works of your fingers, the moon and stars which you established.” The verb “[and] see” is understood by ellipsis in the second half of the verse.
- Psalm 8:4 tn Heb “What is man[kind]?” The singular noun אֱנוֹשׁ (ʾenosh, “man”) is used here in a collective sense and refers to the human race.
- Psalm 8:4 tn Heb “remember him.”
- Psalm 8:4 tn Heb “and the son of man.” The phrase “son of man” is used here in a collective sense and refers to human beings. For other uses of the phrase in a collective or representative manner, see Num 23:19; Ps 146:3; Isa 51:12.
- Psalm 8:4 tn The two imperfect verbal forms in v. 4 describe God’s characteristic activity.
New English Translation (NET)
NET Bible® copyright ©1996-2017 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://netbible.com All rights reserved.