Young's Literal Translation YLT
New International Version NIV
1 To the Overseer. -- By sons of Korah. A Psalm. Hear this, all ye peoples, Give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world.
1
Hear this, all you peoples; listen, all who live in this world,
2 Both low and high, together rich and needy.
2
both low and high, rich and poor alike:
3 My mouth speaketh wise things, And the meditations of my heart [are] things of understanding.
3
My mouth will speak words of wisdom; the meditation of my heart will give you understanding.
4 I incline to a simile mine ear, I open with a harp my riddle:
4
I will turn my ear to a proverb; with the harp I will expound my riddle:
5 Why do I fear in days of evil? The iniquity of my supplanters doth compass me.
5
Why should I fear when evil days come, when wicked deceivers surround me—
6 Those trusting on their wealth, And in the multitude of their riches, Do shew themselves foolish.
6
those who trust in their wealth and boast of their great riches?
7 A brother doth no one at all ransom, He doth not give to God his atonement.
7
No one can redeem the life of another or give to God a ransom for them—
8 And precious [is] the redemption of their soul, And it hath ceased -- to the age.
8
the ransom for a life is costly, no payment is ever enough—
9 And still he liveth for ever, He seeth not the pit.
9
so that they should live on forever and not see decay.
10 For he seeth wise men die, Together the foolish and brutish perish, And have left to others their wealth.
10
For all can see that the wise die, that the foolish and the senseless also perish, leaving their wealth to others.
11 Their heart [is]: Their houses [are] to the age, Their tabernacles to all generations. They proclaimed their names over the lands.
11
Their tombs will remain their houses forever, their dwellings for endless generations, though they had named lands after themselves.
12 And man in honour doth not remain, He hath been like the beasts, they have been cut off.
12
People, despite their wealth, do not endure; they are like the beasts that perish.
13 This their way [is] folly for them, And their posterity with their sayings are pleased. Selah.
13
This is the fate of those who trust in themselves, and of their followers, who approve their sayings.
14 As sheep for Sheol they have set themselves, Death doth afflict them, And the upright rule over them in the morning, And their form [is] for consumption. Sheol [is] a dwelling for him.
14
They are like sheep and are destined to die; death will be their shepherd (but the upright will prevail over them in the morning). Their forms will decay in the grave, far from their princely mansions.
15 Only, God doth ransom my soul from the hand of Sheol, For He doth receive me. Selah.
15
But God will redeem me from the realm of the dead; he will surely take me to himself.
16 Fear not, when one maketh wealth, When the honour of his house is abundant,
16
Do not be overawed when others grow rich, when the splendor of their houses increases;
17 For at his death he receiveth nothing, His honour goeth not down after him.
17
for they will take nothing with them when they die, their splendor will not descend with them.
18 For his soul in his life he blesseth, (And they praise thee when thou dost well for thyself.)
18
Though while they live they count themselves blessed— and people praise you when you prosper—
19 It cometh to the generation of his fathers, For ever they see not the light.
19
they will join those who have gone before them, who will never again see the light of life.
20 Man in honour, who understandest not, Hath been like the beasts, they have been cut off!
20
People who have wealth but lack understanding are like the beasts that perish.
Young's Literal Translation is in the public domain.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.