4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?
4 what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?
4 Then I look at my micro-self and wonder, Why do you bother with us? Why take a second look our way?
4 What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him?
4 what are mere mortals that you should think about them, human beings that you should care for them?
3 Lord, what are human beings that you care for them, mere mortals that you think of them?
3 Lord, what is man, that thou takest knowledge of him! or the son of man, that thou makest account of him!
3 O Lord, what is man that you regard him, or the son of man that you think of him?
3 I wonder why you care, God - why do you bother with us at all?
3 Lord, what is man, that You take knowledge of him? Or the son of man, that You are mindful of him?
3 O Lord, what are human beings that you should notice them, mere mortals that you should think about them?
(Read Psalm 144:1-8)
When men become eminent for things as to which they have had few advantages, they should be more deeply sensible that God has been their Teacher. Happy those to whom the Lord gives that noblest victory, conquest and dominion over their own spirits. A prayer for further mercy is fitly begun with a thanksgiving for former mercy. There was a special power of God, inclining the people of Israel to be subject to David; it was typical of the bringing souls into subjection to the Lord Jesus. Man's days have little substance, considering how many thoughts and cares of a never-dying soul are employed about a poor dying body. Man's life is as a shadow that passes away. In their highest earthly exaltation, believers will recollect how mean, sinful, and vile they are in themselves; thus they will be preserved from self-importance and presumption. God's time to help his people is, when they are sinking, and all other helps fail.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Psalm 8:4
Commentary on Psalm 8:3-9
(Read Psalm 8:3-9)
We are to consider the heavens, that man thus may be directed to set his affections on things above. What is man, so mean a creature, that he should be thus honoured! so sinful a creature, that he should be thus favoured! Man has sovereign dominion over the inferior creatures, under God, and is appointed their lord. This refers to Christ. In Hebrews 2:6-8, the apostle, to prove the sovereign dominion of Christ, shows he is that Man, that Son of man, here spoken of, whom God has made to have dominion over the works of his hands. The greatest favour ever showed to the human race, and the greatest honour ever put upon human nature, were exemplified in the Lord Jesus. With good reason does the psalmist conclude as he began, Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth, which has been honoured with the presence of the Redeemer, and is still enlightened by his gospel, and governed by his wisdom and power! What words can reach his praises, who has a right to our obedience as our Redeemer?