New International Version NIV
New Living Translation NLT
1 Hear this, all you peoples; listen, all who live in this world,
1
Listen to this, all you people! Pay attention, everyone in the world!
2 both low and high, rich and poor alike:
2
High and low, rich and poor—listen!
3 My mouth will speak words of wisdom; the meditation of my heart will give you understanding.
3
For my words are wise, and my thoughts are filled with insight.
4 I will turn my ear to a proverb; with the harp I will expound my riddle:
4
I listen carefully to many proverbs and solve riddles with inspiration from a harp.
5 Why should I fear when evil days come, when wicked deceivers surround me—
5
Why should I fear when trouble comes, when enemies surround me?
6 those who trust in their wealth and boast of their great riches?
6
They trust in their wealth and boast of great riches.
7 No one can redeem the life of another or give to God a ransom for them—
7
Yet they cannot redeem themselves from death by paying a ransom to God.
8 the ransom for a life is costly, no payment is ever enough—
8
Redemption does not come so easily, for no one can ever pay enough
9 so that they should live on forever and not see decay.
9
to live forever and never see the grave.
10 For all can see that the wise die, that the foolish and the senseless also perish, leaving their wealth to others.
10
Those who are wise must finally die, just like the foolish and senseless, leaving all their wealth behind.
11 Their tombs will remain their houses forever, their dwellings for endless generations, though they had named lands after themselves.
11
The grave is their eternal home, where they will stay forever. They may name their estates after themselves,
12 People, despite their wealth, do not endure; they are like the beasts that perish.
12
but their fame will not last. They will die, just like animals.
13 This is the fate of those who trust in themselves, and of their followers, who approve their sayings.
13
This is the fate of fools, though they are remembered as being wise. Interlude
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
Like sheep, they are led to the grave, where death will be their shepherd. In the morning the godly will rule over them. Their bodies will rot in the grave, far from their grand estates.
15 But God will redeem me from the realm of the dead; he will surely take me to himself.
15
But as for me, God will redeem my life. He will snatch me from the power of the grave. Interlude
16 Do not be overawed when others grow rich, when the splendor of their houses increases;
16
So don’t be dismayed when the wicked grow rich and their homes become ever more splendid.
17 for they will take nothing with them when they die, their splendor will not descend with them.
17
For when they die, they take nothing with them. Their wealth will not follow them into the grave.
18 Though while they live they count themselves blessed— and people praise you when you prosper—
18
In this life they consider themselves fortunate and are applauded for their success.
19 they will join those who have gone before them, who will never again see the light of life.
19
But they will die like all before them and never again see the light of day.
20 People who have wealth but lack understanding are like the beasts that perish.
20
People who boast of their wealth don’t understand; they will die, just like animals.
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.
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by
Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.