4 Man is like a breath. His days are like a shadow that passes away.
My days are like a long shadow. I have withered like grass.
(For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, Because our days on earth are a shadow.)
For we must needs die, and are as water split on the ground, which can't be gathered up again; neither does God take away life, but devises means, that he who is banished not be an outcast from him.
For we are strangers before you, and foreigners, as all our fathers were: our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is no abiding.
"Man, who is born of a woman, Is of few days, and full of trouble. He comes forth like a flower, and is cut down. He also flees like a shadow, and doesn't continue. Do you open your eyes on such a one, And bring me into judgment with you?
Behold, you have made my days handbreadths. My lifetime is as nothing before you. Surely every man stands as a breath." Selah. "Surely every man walks like a shadow. Surely they busy themselves in vain. He heaps up, and doesn't know who shall gather.
Surely men of low degree are just a breath, And men of high degree are a lie. In the balances they will go up. They are together lighter than a breath.
Remember how short my time is! For what vanity have you created all the children of men!
"Vanity of vanities," says the Preacher; "Vanity of vanities, all is vanity."
I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and a chasing after wind.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Psalms 144
Commentary on Psalms 144 Matthew Henry Commentary
Psalm 144
The four preceding psalms seem to have been penned by David before his accession to the crown, when he was persecuted by Saul; this seems to have been penned afterwards, when he was still in trouble (for there is no condition in this world privileged with an exemption from trouble), the neighbouring nations molesting him and giving him disturbance, especially the Philistines, 2 Sa. 5:17. In this psalm,
In singing this psalm we may give God the glory of our spiritual privileges and advancements, and fetch in help from him against our spiritual enemies; we may pray for the prosperity of our souls, of our families, and of our land; and, in the opinion of some of the Jewish writers, we may refer the psalm to the Messiah and his kingdom.
A psalm of David.
Psa 144:1-8
Here,
Psa 144:9-15
The method is the same in this latter part of the psalm as in the former; David first gives glory to God and then begs mercy from him.