King James Version KJV
New Revised Standard NRS
1 Hear this, all ye people; give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world:
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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 of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding.
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My mouth shall speak wisdom; the meditation of my heart shall be understanding.
4 I will incline mine ear to a parable: I will open my dark saying upon the harp.
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I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will solve my riddle to the music of the harp.
5 Wherefore should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity of my heels shall compass me about?
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Why should I fear in times of trouble, when the iniquity of my persecutors surrounds me,
6 They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches;
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those who trust in their wealth and boast of the abundance of their riches?
7 None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him:
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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 redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever:)
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For the ransom of life is costly, and can never suffice,
9 That he should still live for ever, and not see corruption.
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that one should live on forever and never see the grave.
10 For he seeth that wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish person 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 inward thought is, that their houses shall continue for ever, and their dwelling places to all generations; they call their lands after 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 Nevertheless man being in honour abideth not: 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 their way is their folly: yet their posterity approve their sayings. 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 laid in the grave; death shall feed on them; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their beauty shall consume in the grave from their dwelling.
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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 redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall 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 thou afraid when one is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased;
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Do not be afraid when some become rich, when the wealth of their houses increases.
17 For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away: his glory shall not descend after him.
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For when they die they will carry nothing away; their wealth will not go down after them.
18 Though while he lived he blessed his soul: and men will praise thee, when thou doest well to thyself.
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Though in their lifetime they count themselves happy —for you are praised when you do well for yourself—
19 He shall go to the generation of his fathers; they shall never see light.
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they will go to the company of their ancestors, who will never again see the light.
20 Man that is in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish.
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Mortals cannot abide in their pomp; they are like the animals that perish.
The King James Version is in the public domain.
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.