English Standard Version ESV
New Revised Standard NRS
1 Hear this, all peoples! Give ear, all inhabitants of the world,
1
Hear this, all you peoples; give ear, all inhabitants of the world,
2 both low and high, rich and poor together!
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both low and high, rich and poor together.
3 My mouth shall speak wisdom; the meditation of my heart shall be understanding.
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My mouth shall speak wisdom; the meditation of my heart shall be understanding.
4 I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will solve my riddle to the music of 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 fear in times of trouble, when the iniquity of those who cheat me surrounds me,
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Why should I fear in times of trouble, when the iniquity of my persecutors surrounds me,
6 those who trust in their wealth and boast of the abundance of their riches?
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those who trust in their wealth and boast of the abundance of their riches?
7 Truly no man can ransom another, or give to God the price of his life,
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Truly, no ransom avails for one's life, there is no price one can give to God for it.
8 for the ransom of their life is costly and can never suffice,
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For the ransom of life is costly, and can never suffice,
9 that he should live on forever and never see the pit.
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that one should live on forever and never see the grave.
10 For he sees that even the wise die; the fool and the stupid alike must perish and leave their wealth 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 homes forever, their dwelling places to all generations, though they called lands by their own names.
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Their graves are their homes forever, their dwelling places to all generations, though they named lands their own.
12 Man in his pomp will not remain; he is like the beasts that perish.
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Mortals cannot abide in their pomp; they are like the animals that perish.
13 This is the path of those who have foolish confidence; yet after them people approve of their boasts. 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 are appointed for Sheol; death shall be their shepherd, and the upright shall rule over them in the morning. Their form shall be consumed in Sheol, with no place to dwell.
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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 ransom my soul from the power of Sheol, for he will receive me. Selah
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But God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol, for he will receive me. (Selah)
16 Be not afraid when a man becomes rich, when the glory of his house increases.
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Do not be afraid when some become rich, when the wealth of their houses increases.
17 For when he dies he will carry nothing away; his glory will not go down after him.
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For when they die they will carry nothing away; their wealth will not go down after them.
18 For though, while he lives, he counts himself blessed—and though you get praise when you do well for yourself—
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Though in their lifetime they count themselves happy —for you are praised when you do well for yourself—
19 his soul will go to the generation of his fathers, who will never again see light.
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they will go to the company of their ancestors, who will never again see the light.
20 Man in his pomp yet without understanding is like the beasts that perish.
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Mortals cannot abide in their pomp; they are like the animals that perish.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2025
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.