Parallel Verses
Amplified
Man is like a mere breath;
His days are like a shadow that passes away.
New American Standard Bible
His
King James Version
Man is like to vanity: his days are as a shadow that passeth away.
Holman Bible
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.
A Conservative Version
Man is like vanity. His days are as a shadow that passes away.
American Standard Version
Man is like to vanity: His days are as a shadow that passeth away.
Darby Translation
Man is like to vanity; his days are as a shadow that passeth away.
Julia Smith Translation
Man was likened to vanity: his days as a shadow passing away.
King James 2000
Man is like to vanity: his days are as a shadow that passes away.
Lexham Expanded Bible
Humankind is like a breath, his days like a passing shadow.
Modern King James verseion
Man is like vanity; his days are like a shadow that passes away.
Modern Spelling Tyndale-Coverdale
Man is like a thing of naught; his time passeth away like a shadow.
NET Bible
People are like a vapor, their days like a shadow that disappears.
New Heart English Bible
Man is like a breath. His days are like a shadow that passes away.
The Emphasized Bible
The earthborn, resembleth, a vapour, his days, are like a passing shadow.
Webster
Man is like to vanity: his days are as a shadow that passeth away.
World English Bible
Man is like a breath. His days are like a shadow that passes away.
Youngs Literal Translation
Man to vanity hath been like, His days are as a shadow passing by.
Themes
Word Count of 19 Translations in Psalm 144:4
Verse Info
Context Readings
A King's Prayer
3
Lord, what is man that You take notice of him?
Or the son of man that You think of him?
Man is like a mere breath;
His days are like a shadow that passes away.
Bow Your heavens, O Lord, and come down;
Touch the mountains, and they will smoke.
Cross References
Psalm 102:11
My days are like an evening shadow that lengthens and vanishes [with the sun];
And as for me, I wither away like grass.
Job 8:9
“For we are only of yesterday and know nothing,
Because our days on earth are [like] a shadow [just a breath or a vapor].
Psalm 109:23
I am vanishing like a shadow when it lengthens and fades;
I am shaken off like the locust.
2 Samuel 14:14
For we will certainly die and are like water that is spilled on the ground and cannot be gathered up again. Yet God does not [simply] take away life, but devises plans so that the one who is banished is not driven away from Him.
1 Chronicles 29:15
For we are
Job 4:19
‘How much more [will He blame and charge] those who dwell in houses (bodies) of clay,
Whose foundations are in the dust,
Who are crushed like a moth.
Job 14:1-3
Is short-lived and full of turmoil.
Psalm 39:5-6
“Behold, You have made my days as [short as] hand widths,
And my lifetime is as nothing in Your sight.
Surely every man at his best is a mere breath [a wisp of smoke, a vapor that vanishes]!
Psalm 39:11
“With rebukes You discipline man for sin;
You consume like a moth what is precious to him;
Surely every man is a mere breath [a wisp of smoke, a vapor that vanishes]. Selah.
Psalm 62:9
Men of low degree are only a breath (emptiness), and men of [high] rank are a lie (delusion).
In the balances they go up [because they have no measurable weight or value];
They are together lighter than a breath.
Psalm 89:47
Remember how fleeting my lifetime is;
For what vanity, [for what emptiness, for what futility, for what wisp of smoke] You have created all the sons of men!
Psalm 103:15-16
As for man, his days are like grass;
Like a flower of the field, so he flourishes.
Ecclesiastes 1:2
“Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher.
“Vanity of vanities! All [that is done without God’s guidance] is vanity [futile, meaningless—a wisp of smoke, a vapor that vanishes, merely chasing the wind].”
Ecclesiastes 1:14
I have seen all the works which have been done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity, a futile grasping and chasing after the wind.
Ecclesiastes 8:13
But it will not be well for the evil man, nor will he lengthen his days like a shadow, because he does not fear God.
Ecclesiastes 12:8
“Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher. “All [that is done without God’s guidance] is vanity (futility).”