Psalm 103:15
◄  Psalm 103:15  ►
New International Version (©2011)
The life of mortals is like grass, they flourish like a flower of the field;

New Living Translation (©2007)
Our days on earth are like grass; like wildflowers, we bloom and die.

English Standard Version (©2001)
As for man, his days are like grass; he flourishes like a flower of the field;

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
As for man, his days are like grass; As a flower of the field, so he flourishes.

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
As for man, his days are like grass-- he blooms like a flower of the field;

International Standard Version (©2012)
A person's life is like grass— it blossoms like wild flowers,

NET Bible (©2006)
A person's life is like grass. Like a flower in the field it flourishes,

Aramaic Bible in Plain English (©2010)
A son of man is like the grass in its days and like a flower of the field so he springs up.

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
Human life is as short-lived as grass. It blossoms like a flower in the field.

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourishes.

American King James Version
As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourishes.

American Standard Version
As for man, his days are as grass; As a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.

Douay-Rheims Bible
man's days are as grass, as the flower of the field so shall he flourish.

Darby Bible Translation
As for man, his days are as grass; as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth:

English Revised Version
As for man, his days are as grass; as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.

Webster's Bible Translation
As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.

World English Bible
As for man, his days are like grass. As a flower of the field, so he flourishes.

Young's Literal Translation
Mortal man! as grass are his days, As a flower of the field so he flourisheth;

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

103:15-18 How short is man's life, and uncertain! The flower of the garden is commonly more choice, and will last the longer, for being sheltered by the garden-wall, and the gardener's care; but the flower of the field, to which life is here compared, is not only withering in itself, but exposed to the cold blasts, and liable to be cropt and trod on by the beasts of the field. Such is man. God considers this, and pities him; let him consider it himself. God's mercy is better than life, for it will outlive it. His righteousness, the truth of his promise, shall be unto children's children, who tread in the footsteps of their forefathers' piety. Then shall mercy be preserved to them.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 15. - As for man, his days are as grass. Here is a new departure. From the loving kindness and mercy of God the psalmist passes to the weakness and helplessness of man. Man is like grass (Psalm 37:2; Psalm 90:5, 6; Psalm 102:11; Isaiah 40:6-8, etc.). His days fleet and fade. He never "continueth in one stay." As a flower of the field (comp. Job 14:2; Isaiah 28:1; Isaiah 40:6; James 1:10; 1 Peter 1:24, etc.). He flourisheth; i.e. he cometh up in full vigour, glorious to look upon, rejoicing in his youth and strength, but within a little time he fadeth, falleth away, or is "cut down, dried up, and withered." There is no strength or stability in him.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

As for man, his days are as grass,.... He himself is like the grass which springs out of the earth; continues on it for a time, and then drops into it; the continuance of the grass is very short, it flourishes in the morning, is cut down at evening, and withers; see Psalm 90:5. As a flower of the field, so he flourisheth; which denotes the goodliness of man, and describes him in his best estate, as possessed of health, riches, honour, and all the gifts and endowments of nature; and yet, with all these, is only like a field flower, exposed to every wind, liable to be cropped by every hand, and to be trampled upon by the beasts of the field; and therefore flourishes not long: so very precarious and uncertain is man in his most flourishing circumstances; see Isaiah 40:6.

Psalm 103:15 Parallel Commentaries
Bible Hub: Online Parallel Bible


All within me, Praise His Holy Name!
…14For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust. 15As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourishes. 16For the wind passes over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more. …

James 1:10 But the rich should take pride in their humiliation--since they will pass away like a wild flower.
James 1:11 For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business.
1 Peter 1:24 For, "All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall,
Job 14:2 They spring up like flowers and wither away; like fleeting shadows, they do not endure.
Psalm 90:5 Yet you sweep people away in the sleep of death-- they are like the new grass of the morning:
Isaiah 40:6 A voice says, "Cry out." And I said, "What shall I cry?" "All people are like grass, and all their faithfulness is like the flowers of the field.