Psalms 144:3
Translations
King James Version (KJV)
LORD, what is man, that you take knowledge of him! or the son of man, that you make account of him!
American King James Version (AKJV)
LORD, what is man, that you take knowledge of him! or the son of man, that you make account of him!
American Standard Version (ASV)
Jehovah, what is man, that thou takest knowledge of him? Or the son of man, that thou makest account of him?
Basic English Translation (BBE)
Lord, what is man, that you keep him in mind? or the son of man that you take him into account?
Webster's Revision
LORD, what is man, that thou takest knowledge of him! or the son of man, that thou makest account of him!
World English Bible
Yahweh, what is man, that you care for him? Or the son of man, that you think of him?
English Revised Version (ERV)
LORD, what is man, that thou takest knowledge of him? or the son of man, that thou makest account of him?
Clarke's Psalms 144:3 Bible Commentary
Lord, what is man - See the notes on Psalm 8:4, Psalm 8:5. What is Adam, that thou approvest of him? Can he do any thing worthy of thy notice? Or the son of feeble perishing man, that thou shouldest hold him in repute? What care, love, and attention, dost thou lavish upon him!
Barnes's Psalms 144:3 Bible Commentary
Lord, what is man, that thou takest knowledge of him? - The sentiment here is the same as in Psalm 8:4, though the language is not precisely the same. See the notes at that passage. The word rendered "that thou takest knowledge of him," means here to take notice of; to regard. The idea is, It is amazing that a being so insignificant as man should be an object of interest to God, or that One so great should pay any attention to him and to his affairs. In Psalm 8:4, the language is "that thou art mindful of him," that is, that thou dost remember him - that thou dost not altogether pass him over. In Psalm 8:1-9 the remark is made in view of the heavens as being so exalted in comparison with man, and the wonder is, that in view of worlds so vast occupying the divine attention, and needing the divine care, "man," so insignificant, does not pass out of his view altogether. Here the remark seems to be made in illustration of the idea that there is no strength in man; that he has no power to accomplish anything of himself; that he is entirely dependent on God.
Or the son of man - Man - any of the race. See the notes at Psalm 8:4.
That thou makest account of him! - Psalm 8:4, "that thou visitest him." See the notes at that passage. The word here means "that thou shouldest "think" of him," that he should ever come into thy thought at all.