New International Version NIV
Common English Bible CEB
1 Hear this, all you peoples; listen, all who live in this world,
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Listen to this, all you people! Listen closely, all you citizens of the world—
2 both low and high, rich and poor alike:
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people of every kind, rich and poor alike!
3 My mouth will speak words of wisdom; the meditation of my heart will give you understanding.
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My mouth speaks wisdom; my heart's meditation is full of insight.
4 I will turn my ear to a proverb; with the harp I will expound my riddle:
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I will pay close attention to a proverb; I will explain my riddle on the lyre.
5 Why should I fear when evil days come, when wicked deceivers surround me—
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Why should I be afraid in times of trouble, when the wrongdoing of my bullies engulfs me—
6 those who trust in their wealth and boast of their great riches?
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those people who trust in their fortunes and boast of their fantastic wealth?
7 No one can redeem the life of another or give to God a ransom for them—
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Wealth? It can't save a single person! It can't pay a life's ransom-price to God.
8 the ransom for a life is costly, no payment is ever enough—
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The price to save someone's life is too high— wealth will never be enough—
9 so that they should live on forever and not see decay.
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no one can live forever without experiencing the pit.
10 For all can see that the wise die, that the foolish and the senseless also perish, leaving their wealth to others.
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Everyone knows that the wise die too, just like foolish and stupid people do, all of them leaving their fortunes to others.
11 Their tombs will remain their houses forever, their dwellings for endless generations, though they had named lands after themselves.
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Their graves are their eternal homes, the place they live for all generations, even if they had counties named after them!
12 People, despite their wealth, do not endure; they are like the beasts that perish.
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People won't live any longer because of wealth; they're just like the animals that pass away.
13 This is the fate of those who trust in themselves, and of their followers, who approve their sayings.
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That's how it goes for those who are foolish, as well as for those who follow their lead, pleased with their talk. 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.
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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.
15 But God will redeem me from the realm of the dead; he will surely take me to himself.
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But God will save my life from the power of the grave, because he will take me. Selah
16 Do not be overawed when others grow rich, when the splendor of their houses increases;
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Don't be overly impressed when someone becomes rich, their house swelling to fantastic proportions,
17 for they will take nothing with them when they die, their splendor will not descend with them.
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because when they die, they won't take any of it with them. Their fantastic things won't accompany them down under.
18 Though while they live they count themselves blessed— and people praise you when you prosper—
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Though they consider themselves blessed during their lives, and even thank you when you deal well with them,
19 they will join those who have gone before them, who will never again see the light of life.
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they too will join the ancestors who've gone ahead; they too will never see the light again.
20 People who have wealth but lack understanding are like the beasts that perish.
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Wealthy people? They just don't understand; they're just like the animals that pass away.
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.
Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible