Psalm 144:4 They are like a breath; their days are like a fleeting shadow.

◄ Psalm 144:4 ►

Parallel Verses

New International Version
They are like a breath; their days are like a fleeting shadow.

English Standard Version
Man is like a breath; his days are like a passing shadow.

New American Standard Bible
Man is like a mere breath; His days are like a passing shadow.

King James Bible
Man is like to vanity: his days are as a shadow that passeth away.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Man is like a breath; his days are like a passing shadow.

International Standard Version
The human person is a mere empty breath; his days are like a fading shadow.

American Standard Version
Man is like to vanity: His days are as a shadow that passeth away.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Man is like to vanity: his days pass away like a shadow.

Darby Bible Translation
Man is like to vanity; his days are as a shadow that passeth away.

Young's Literal Translation
Man to vanity hath been like, His days are as a shadow passing by.

Cross References

James 4:14
Whereas you know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appears for a little time, and then vanishes away.

Job 8:9
(For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, because our days on earth are a shadow:)

Job 11:12
For vain men would be wise, though man be born like a wild ass's colt.

Job 14:2
He comes forth like a flower, and is cut down: he flees also as a shadow, and continues not.

Psalm 39:5
Behold, you have made my days as an handbreadth; and my age is as nothing before you: truly every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah.

Psalm 39:11
When you with rebukes do correct man for iniquity, you make his beauty to consume away like a moth: surely every man is vanity. Selah.

Psalm 102:11
My days are like a shadow that declines; and I am withered like grass.

Psalm 109:23
I am gone like the shadow when it declines: I am tossed up and down as the locust.

Ecclesiastes 1:2
Vanity of vanities, said the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.

Isaiah 2:22
Cease you from man, whose breath is in his nostrils: for wherein is he to be accounted of ?

Jump to Previous

Breath Fleeting Life Mere Passes Passeth Passing Quickly Shade Shadow Vanity

Jump to Next

Breath Fleeting Life Mere Passes Passeth Passing Quickly Shade Shadow Vanity

Commentaries

Matthew Henry's Commentary

144:1-8 When men become eminent for things as to which they have had few advantages, they should be more deeply sensible that God has been their Teacher. Happy those to whom the Lord gives that noblest victory, conquest and dominion over their own spirits. A prayer for further mercy is fitly begun with a thanksgiving for former mercy. There was a special power of God, inclining the people of Israel to be subject to David; it was typical of the bringing souls into subjection to the Lord Jesus. Man's days have little substance, considering how many thoughts and cares of a never-dying soul are employed about a poor dying body. Man's life is as a shadow that passes away. In their highest earthly exaltation, believers will recollect how mean, sinful, and vile they are in themselves; thus they will be preserved from self-importance and presumption. God's time to help his people is, when they are sinking, and all other helps fail.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

PSALM 144

Ps 144:1-15. David's praise of God as his all-sufficient help is enhanced by a recognition of the intrinsic worthlessness of man. Confidently imploring God's interposition against his enemies, he breaks forth into praise and joyful anticipations of the prosperity of his kingdom, when freed from vain and wicked men.