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New International Version (NIV) |
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1 Hear this, all ye people; give ear , all ye inhabitants of the world:
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1 Hear this, all you peoples; listen, all who live in this world,
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2 Both low and high , rich and poor, together.
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2 both low and high, rich and poor alike:
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3 My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding.
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3 My mouth will speak words of wisdom; the utterance from my heart will give understanding.
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4 I will incline mine ear to a parable: I will open my dark saying upon the harp.
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4 I will turn my ear to a proverb; with the harp I will expound my riddle:
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5 Wherefore should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity of my heels shall compass me about?
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5 Why should I fear when evil days come, when wicked deceivers surround me--
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6 They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches;
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6 those who trust in their wealth and boast of their great riches?
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7 None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him:
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7 No man can redeem the life of another or give to God a ransom for him--
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8 (For the redemption of their soul is precious , and it ceaseth for ever:)
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8 the ransom for a life is costly, no payment is ever enough--
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9 That he should still live for ever, and not see corruption.
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9 that he should live on forever and not see decay.
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10 For he seeth that wise men die , likewise the fool and the brutish person perish , and leave their wealth to others.
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10 For all can see that wise men die; the foolish and the senseless alike perish and leave their wealth to others.
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11 Their inward thought is, that their houses shall continue for ever, and their dwelling places to all generations; they call their lands after their own names.
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11 Their tombs will remain their houses forever, their dwellings for endless generations, though they had named lands after themselves.
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12 Nevertheless man being in honour abideth not: he is like the beasts that perish .
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12 But man, despite his riches, does not endure; he is like the beasts that perish.
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13 This their way is their folly: yet their posterity approve their sayings. Selah.
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13 This is the fate of those who trust in themselves, and of their followers, who approve their sayings. "Selah"
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14 Like sheep they are laid in the grave; death shall feed on them; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their beauty shall consume in the grave from their dwelling.
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14 Like sheep they are destined for the grave, and death will feed on them. The upright will rule over them in the morning; their forms will decay in the grave, far from their princely mansions.
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15 But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me. Selah.
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15 But God will redeem my life from the grave; he will surely take me to himself. "Selah"
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16 Be not thou afraid when one is made rich , when the glory of his house is increased ;
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16 Do not be overawed when a man grows rich, when the splendor of his house increases;
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17 For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away : his glory shall not descend after him.
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17 for he will take nothing with him when he dies, his splendor will not descend with him.
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18 Though while he lived he blessed his soul: and men will praise thee, when thou doest well to thyself.
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18 Though while he lived he counted himself blessed-- and men praise you when you prosper--
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19 He shall go to the generation of his fathers; they shall never see light.
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19 he will join the generation of his fathers, who will never see the light [of life].
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20 Man that is in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish .
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20 A man who has riches without understanding is like the beasts that perish.
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| The King James Version is in the public domain. (The King James Bible Version Online) |
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide. (New International Version Bible Online) |
