Holman Christian Standard Bible CSB
New International Version NIV
1 Hear this, all you peoples; listen, all who inhabit the world,
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Hear this, all you peoples; listen, all who live in this world,
2 both low and high, rich and poor together.
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both low and high, rich and poor alike:
3 My mouth speaks wisdom; my heart's meditation [brings] understanding.
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My mouth will speak words of wisdom; the meditation of my heart will give you understanding.
4 I turn my ear to a proverb; I explain my riddle with a lyre.
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I will turn my ear to a proverb; with the harp I will expound my riddle:
5 Why should I fear in times of trouble? The iniquity of my foes surrounds me.
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Why should I fear when evil days come, when wicked deceivers surround me—
6 They trust in their wealth and boast of their abundant riches.
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those who trust in their wealth and boast of their great riches?
7 Yet these cannot redeem a person or pay his ransom to God-
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No one can redeem the life of another or give to God a ransom for them—
8 since the price of redeeming him is too costly, one should forever stop trying-
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the ransom for a life is costly, no payment is ever enough—
9 so that he may live forever and not see the Pit.
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so that they should live on forever and not see decay.
10 For one can see that wise men die; the foolish and the senseless also pass away. Then they leave their wealth to others.
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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 eternal homes, their homes from generation to generation, though they have named estates after themselves.
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Their tombs will remain their houses forever, their dwellings for endless generations, though they had named lands after themselves.
12 But despite [his] assets, man will not last; he is like the animals that perish.
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People, despite their wealth, do not endure; they are like the beasts that perish.
13 This is the way of those who are arrogant, and of their followers, who approve of their words. Selah
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This is the fate of those who trust in themselves, and of their followers, who approve their sayings.
14 Like sheep they are headed for Sheol; Death will shepherd them. The upright will rule over them in the morning, and their form will waste away in Sheol, far from their lofty abode.
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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 redeem my life from the power of Sheol, for He will take me. Selah
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But God will redeem me from the realm of the dead; he will surely take me to himself.
16 Do not be afraid when a man gets rich, when the wealth of his house increases.
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Do not be overawed when others grow rich, when the splendor of their houses increases;
17 For when he dies, he will take nothing at all; his wealth will not follow him down.
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for they will take nothing with them when they die, their splendor will not descend with them.
18 Though he praises himself during his lifetime- and people praise you when you do well for yourself-
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Though while they live they count themselves blessed— and people praise you when you prosper—
19 he will go to the generation of his fathers; they will never see the light.
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they will join those who have gone before them, who will never again see the light of life.
20 A man with valuable possessions but without understanding is like the animals that perish.
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People who have wealth but lack understanding are like the beasts that perish.
Holman Christian Standard Bible ® Copyright © 2003, 2002, 2000, 1999 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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.