Good News Translation GNT
New International Version NIV
1 Hear this, everyone! Listen, all people everywhere,
1
Hear this, all you peoples; listen, all who live in this world,
2 great and small alike, rich and poor together.
2
both low and high, rich and poor alike:
3 My thoughts will be clear; I will speak words of wisdom.
3
My mouth will speak words of wisdom; the meditation of my heart will give you understanding.
4 I will turn my attention to proverbs and explain their meaning as I play the harp.
4
I will turn my ear to a proverb; with the harp I will expound my riddle:
5 I am not afraid in times of danger when I am surrounded by enemies,
5
Why should I fear when evil days come, when wicked deceivers surround me—
6 by evil people who trust in their riches and boast of their great wealth.
6
those who trust in their wealth and boast of their great riches?
7 We can never redeem ourselves; we cannot pay God the price for our lives,
7
No one can redeem the life of another or give to God a ransom for them—
8 because the payment for a human life is too great. What we could pay would never be enough
8
the ransom for a life is costly, no payment is ever enough—
9 to keep us from the grave, to let us live forever.
9
so that they should live on forever and not see decay.
10 Anyone can see that even the wise die, as well as the foolish and stupid. They all leave their riches to their descendants.
10
For all can see that the wise die, that the foolish and the senseless also perish, leaving their wealth to others.
11 Their graves are their homes forever; there they stay for all time, though they once had lands of their own.
11
Their tombs will remain their houses forever, their dwellings for endless generations, though they had named lands after themselves.
12 Our greatness cannot keep us from death; we will still die like the animals.
12
People, despite their wealth, do not endure; they are like the beasts that perish.
13 See what happens to those who trust in themselves, the fate of those who are satisfied with their wealth -
13
This is the fate of those who trust in themselves, and of their followers, who approve their sayings.
14 they are doomed to die like sheep, and Death will be their shepherd. The righteous will triumph over them, as their bodies quickly decay in the world of the dead far from their homes.
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 But God will rescue me; he will save me from the power of death.
15
But God will redeem me from the realm of the dead; he will surely take me to himself.
16 Don't be upset when someone becomes rich, when his wealth grows even greater;
16
Do not be overawed when others grow rich, when the splendor of their houses increases;
17 he cannot take it with him when he dies; his wealth will not go with him to the grave.
17
for they will take nothing with them when they die, their splendor will not descend with them.
18 Even if someone is satisfied with this life and is praised because he is successful,
18
Though while they live they count themselves blessed— and people praise you when you prosper—
19 he will join all his ancestors in death, where the darkness lasts forever.
19
they will join those who have gone before them, who will never again see the light of life.
20 Our greatness cannot keep us from death; we will still die like the animals.
20
People who have wealth but lack understanding are like the beasts that perish.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.
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.