Common English Bible CEB
New Revised Standard NRS
1 Listen to this, all you people! Listen closely, all you citizens of the world—
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Hear this, all you peoples; give ear, all inhabitants of the world,
2 people of every kind, rich and poor alike!
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both low and high, rich and poor together.
3 My mouth speaks wisdom; my heart's meditation is full of insight.
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My mouth shall speak wisdom; the meditation of my heart shall be understanding.
4 I will pay close attention to a proverb; I will explain my riddle on the lyre.
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I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will solve my riddle to the music of the harp.
5 Why should I be afraid in times of trouble, when the wrongdoing of my bullies engulfs me—
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Why should I fear in times of trouble, when the iniquity of my persecutors surrounds me,
6 those people who trust in their fortunes and boast of their fantastic wealth?
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those who trust in their wealth and boast of the abundance of their riches?
7 Wealth? It can't save a single person! It can't pay a life's ransom-price to God.
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Truly, no ransom avails for one's life, there is no price one can give to God for it.
8 The price to save someone's life is too high— wealth will never be enough—
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For the ransom of life is costly, and can never suffice,
9 no one can live forever without experiencing the pit.
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that one should live on forever and never see the grave.
10 Everyone knows that the wise die too, just like foolish and stupid people do, all of them leaving their fortunes to others.
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When we look at the wise, they die; fool and dolt perish together and leave their wealth to others.
11 Their graves are their eternal homes, the place they live for all generations, even if they had counties named after them!
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Their graves are their homes forever, their dwelling places to all generations, though they named lands their own.
12 People won't live any longer because of wealth; they're just like the animals that pass away.
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Mortals cannot abide in their pomp; they are like the animals that perish.
13 That's how it goes for those who are foolish, as well as for those who follow their lead, pleased with their talk. Selah
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Such is the fate of the foolhardy, the end of those who are pleased with their lot. (Selah)
14 Like sheep, they're headed straight for the grave. Death will be their shepherd— but those who do right in their hearts will rule over them come morning!— their forms wasting away in the grave rather than having some dignified residence.
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Like sheep they are appointed for Sheol; Death shall be their shepherd; straight to the grave they descend, and their form shall waste away; Sheol shall be their home.
15 But God will save my life from the power of the grave, because he will take me. Selah
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But God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol, for he will receive me. (Selah)
16 Don't be overly impressed when someone becomes rich, their house swelling to fantastic proportions,
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Do not be afraid when some become rich, when the wealth of their houses increases.
17 because when they die, they won't take any of it with them. Their fantastic things won't accompany them down under.
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For when they die they will carry nothing away; their wealth will not go down after them.
18 Though they consider themselves blessed during their lives, and even thank you when you deal well with them,
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Though in their lifetime they count themselves happy —for you are praised when you do well for yourself—
19 they too will join the ancestors who've gone ahead; they too will never see the light again.
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they will go to the company of their ancestors, who will never again see the light.
20 Wealthy people? They just don't understand; they're just like the animals that pass away.
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Mortals cannot abide in their pomp; they are like the animals that perish.
Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.