Psalms 144:3-4

144:3 O Lord, of what importance is the human race, ¹  that you should notice them?

Of what importance is mankind, ²  that you should be concerned about them? ³ 

144:4 People ⁴  are like a vapor,

their days like a shadow that disappears. ⁵ 

[144:3]  ¹ tn Heb “What is mankind?” The singular noun אֱנוֹשׁ (’enosh) is used here in a collective sense and refers to the human race. See Ps 8:5.

[144:3]  ² tn Heb “and the son of man.” The phrase “son of man” is used here in a collective sense and refers to human beings. For other uses of the phrase in a collective or representative manner, see Num 23:19; Ps 146:3; Isa 51:12.

[144:3]  ³ tn Heb “take account of him.” The two imperfect verbal forms in v. 4 describe God’s characteristic activity.

[144:4]  ⁴ tn Heb “man,” or “mankind.”

[144:4]  ⁵ tn Heb “his days [are] like a shadow that passes away,” that is, like a late afternoon shadow made by the descending sun that will soon be swallowed up by complete darkness. See Ps 102:11.