Psalms 144:4 bbe — Man is like a breath: his life is like a shade which is quickly gone.

Bible in Basic English

"Man is like a breath: his life is like a shade which is quickly gone."

— Psalms 144:4, Bible in Basic English

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Psalms 144:4 in Other Translations

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Psalms 144 — Context

1

Praise be to the God of my strength, teaching my hands the use of the sword, and my fingers the art of fighting:

2

He is my strength, and my Rock; my high tower, and my saviour; my keeper and my hope: he gives me authority over my people.

3

Lord, what is man, that you keep him in mind? or the son of man that you take him into account?

4

Man is like a breath: his life is like a shade which is quickly gone.

5

Come down, O Lord, from your heavens: at your touch let the mountains give out smoke.

6

With your storm-flames send them in flight: send out your arrows for their destruction.

7

Put out your hand from on high; make me free, take me safely out of the great waters, and out of the hands of strange men;

Psalms 144:4 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does Psalms 144:4 say?
Psalms 144:4 in the Bible in Basic English reads: “Man is like a breath: his life is like a shade which is quickly gone.”
Where is Psalms 144:4 in the Bible?
Psalms 144:4 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of Psalms, chapter 144, verse 4.
Who wrote Psalms?
Psalms is traditionally attributed to Multiple authors (David, Asaph, the sons of Korah, Solomon, Moses, others). Approximately 73 psalms are attributed to David; others to Asaph, the sons of Korah, Solomon, Moses, Heman, and Ethan; the remainder are anonymous. It was written c. 1410–430 BC.
What is the book of Psalms about?
The Psalms are the prayer book and hymnal of God's people, gathering a thousand years of inspired song — praise, lament, thanksgiving, confession, and royal and messianic worship. Every emotion of the believing heart finds a voice here, and every voice finds its center in Christ.
What are the major themes of Psalms?
Psalms explores themes including Praise, Lament, Trust, Messiah, Refuge, Kingship. These themes shape the meaning and context of Psalms 144:4.
What translation should I read Psalms 144:4 in?
Psalms 144:4 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize Psalms 144:4?
Psalms 144:4 reads (BBE): “Man is like a breath: his life is like a shade which is quickly gone.” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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