New International Version NIV
The Bible in Basic English BBE
1 Hear this, all you peoples; listen, all who live in this world,
1
<Alamoth. To the chief music-maker. Of the sons of Korah. A Psalm.> Give attention to this, all you peoples; let your ears be open, all you who are living in the world.
2 both low and high, rich and poor alike:
2
High and low together, the poor, and those who have wealth.
3 My mouth will speak words of wisdom; the meditation of my heart will give you understanding.
3
From my mouth will come words of wisdom; and in the thoughts of my heart will be knowledge.
4 I will turn my ear to a proverb; with the harp I will expound my riddle:
4
I will put my teaching into a story; I will make my dark sayings clear with music.
5 Why should I fear when evil days come, when wicked deceivers surround me—
5
What cause have I for fear in the days of evil, when the evil-doing of those who are working for my downfall is round about me?
6 those who trust in their wealth and boast of their great riches?
6
Even of those whose faith is in their wealth, and whose hearts are lifted up because of their stores.
7 No one can redeem the life of another or give to God a ransom for them—
7
Truly, no man may get back his soul for a price, or give to God the payment for himself;
8 the ransom for a life is costly, no payment is ever enough—
8
(Because it takes a great price to keep his soul from death, and man is not able to give it.)
9 so that they should live on forever and not see decay.
9
So that he might have eternal life, and never see the underworld.
10 For all can see that the wise die, that the foolish and the senseless also perish, leaving their wealth to others.
10
For he sees that wise men come to their end, and foolish persons of low behaviour come to destruction together, letting their wealth go to others.
11 Their tombs will remain their houses forever, their dwellings for endless generations, though they had named lands after themselves.
11
The place of the dead is their house for ever, and their resting-place through all generations; those who come after them give their names to their lands.
12 People, despite their wealth, do not endure; they are like the beasts that perish.
12
But man, like the animals, does not go on for ever; he comes to an end like the beasts.
13 This is the fate of those who trust in themselves, and of their followers, who approve their sayings.
13
This is the way of the foolish; their silver is for those who come after them, and their children get the pleasure of their gold. (Selah.)
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.
14
Death will give them their food like sheep; the underworld is their fate and they will go down into it; their flesh is food for worms; their form is wasted away; the underworld is their resting-place for ever.
15 But God will redeem me from the realm of the dead; he will surely take me to himself.
15
But God will get back my soul; for he will take me from the power of death. (Selah.)
16 Do not be overawed when others grow rich, when the splendor of their houses increases;
16
Have no fear when wealth comes to a man, and the glory of his house is increased;
17 for they will take nothing with them when they die, their splendor will not descend with them.
17
For at his death, he will take nothing away; his glory will not go down after him.
18 Though while they live they count themselves blessed— and people praise you when you prosper—
18
Though he might have pride in his soul in his life-time, and men will give you praise if you do well for yourself,
19 they will join those who have gone before them, who will never again see the light of life.
19
He will go to the generation of his fathers; he will not see the light again.
20 People who have wealth but lack understanding are like the beasts that perish.
20
Man, like the animals, does not go on for ever; he comes to an end like the beasts.
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.
The Bible in Basic English is in the public domain.