5 For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.
5 Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings
5 Yet we've so narrowly missed being gods, bright with Eden's dawn light.
5 For You have made him a little lower than the angels, And You have crowned him with glory and honor.
5 Yet you made them only a little lower than God and crowned them with glory and honor.
3 Gird your sword on your side, you mighty one; clothe yourself with splendor and majesty.
3 Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O most mighty, with thy glory and thy majesty.
3 Gird your sword on your thigh, O mighty one, in your splendor and majesty!
3 Strap your sword to your side, warrior! Accept praise! Accept due honor! Ride majestically! Ride triumphantly!
3 Gird Your sword upon Your thigh, O Mighty One, With Your glory and Your majesty.
3 Put on your sword, OÂ mighty warrior! You are so glorious, so majestic!
(Read Psalm 45:1-5)
The psalmist's tongue was guided by the Spirit of God, as the pen is by the hand of a ready writer. This psalm is touching the King Jesus, his kingdom and government. It is a shame that this good matter is not more the subject of our discourse. There is more in Christ to engage our love, than there is or can be in any creature. This world and its charms are ready to draw away our hearts from Christ; therefore we are concerned to understand how much more worthy he is of our love. By his word, his promise, his gospel, the good will of God is made known to us, and the good work of God is begun and carried on in us. The psalmist, verses 3-5, joyfully foretells the progress and success of the Messiah. The arrows of conviction are very terrible in the hearts of sinners, till they are humbled and reconciled; but the arrows of vengeance will be more so to his enemies who refuse to submit. All who have seen his glory and tasted his grace, rejoice to see him, by his word and Spirit, bring enemies and strangers under his dominion.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Psalm 8:5
Commentary on Psalm 8:3-9
(Read Psalm 8:3-9)
We are to consider the heavens, that man thus may be directed to set his affections on things above. What is man, so mean a creature, that he should be thus honoured! so sinful a creature, that he should be thus favoured! Man has sovereign dominion over the inferior creatures, under God, and is appointed their lord. This refers to Christ. In Hebrews 2:6-8, the apostle, to prove the sovereign dominion of Christ, shows he is that Man, that Son of man, here spoken of, whom God has made to have dominion over the works of his hands. The greatest favour ever showed to the human race, and the greatest honour ever put upon human nature, were exemplified in the Lord Jesus. With good reason does the psalmist conclude as he began, Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth, which has been honoured with the presence of the Redeemer, and is still enlightened by his gospel, and governed by his wisdom and power! What words can reach his praises, who has a right to our obedience as our Redeemer?