7 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.
8 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.
9 Heb “take account of him.” The two imperfect verbal forms in v. 4 describe God’s characteristic activity.
10 Heb “man,” or “mankind.”
11 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.
12 The Hebrew verb נָטָה (natah) can carry the sense “to [cause to] bend; to [cause to] bow down.” For example, Gen 49:15 pictures Issachar as a donkey that “bends” its shoulder or back under a burden. Here the Lord causes the sky, pictured as a dome or vault, to sink down as he descends in the storm. See Ps 18:9.
13 Heb “so you might come down.” The prefixed verbal form with vav (ו) conjunctive indicates purpose after the preceding imperative. The same type of construction is utilized in v. 6.
14 Heb “so they might smolder.” The prefixed verbal form with vav (ו) conjunctive indicates purpose after the preceding imperative.
15 Arrows and lightning bolts are associated in other texts (see Pss 18:14; 77:17–18; Zech 9:14), as well as in ancient Near Eastern art (see R. B. Chisholm, “An Exegetical and Theological study of Psalm 18/2 Samuel 22” [Th.D. diss., Dallas Theological Seminary, 1983], 187).

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

O Lord, what is man that you regard him,

or the son of man that you think of him?

Man is like a breath;

his days are like a passing shadow.

Bow your heavens, O Lord, and come down!

Touch the mountains so that they smoke!

Flash forth the lightning and scatter them;

send out your arrows and rout them!

NIVNew International Version (2011)

Lord, what are human beings that you care for them,

mere mortals that you think of them?

They are like a breath;

their days are like a fleeting shadow.

Part your heavens, Lord, and come down;

touch the mountains, so that they smoke.

Send forth lightning and scatter the enemy;

shoot your arrows and rout them.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

Lord, what is a human that you care for him,

a son of man that you think of him?

A human is like a breath;

his days are like a passing shadow.

Lord, part your heavens and come down.

Touch the mountains, and they will smoke.

Flash your lightning and scatter the foe;

shoot your arrows and rout them.

NLTNew Living Translation

O Lord, what are human beings that you should notice them,

mere mortals that you should think about them?

For they are like a breath of air;

their days are like a passing shadow.

Open the heavens, Lord, and come down.

Touch the mountains so they billow smoke.

Hurl your lightning bolts and scatter your enemies!

Shoot your arrows and confuse them!

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

O Yahweh, what is humankind that you take knowledge of him,

or the son of man that you take thought of him?

Humankind is like a breath,

his days like a passing shadow.

O Yahweh, bow the heavens and come down;

touch the mountains so that they smoke.

Flash forth lightning and scatter them;

dispatch your arrows and rout them.

KJV 1900King James Version

Lord, what is man, that thou Takest knowledge of him!

Or the son of man, that thou makest account of him!

Man is like to vanity:

His days are as a shadow that passeth away.

Bow thy heavens, O Lord, and come down:

Touch the mountains, and they shall smoke.

Cast forth lightning, and scatter them:

Shoot out thine arrows, and destroy them.

Public Domain