New International Version NIV
New Revised Standard NRS
1 Hear this, all you peoples; listen, all who live in this 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 alike:
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both low and high, rich and poor together.
3 My mouth will speak words of wisdom; the meditation of my heart will give you understanding.
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My mouth shall speak wisdom; the meditation of my heart shall be understanding.
4 I will turn my ear to a proverb; with the harp I will expound my riddle:
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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 when evil days come, when wicked deceivers surround 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 their great riches?
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those who trust in their wealth and boast of the abundance of their riches?
7 No one can redeem the life of another or give to God a ransom for them—
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Truly, no ransom avails for one's life, there is no price one can give to God for it.
8 the ransom for a life is costly, no payment is ever enough—
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For the ransom of life is costly, and can never suffice,
9 so that they should live on forever and not see decay.
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that one should live on 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.
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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 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 homes forever, their dwelling places to all generations, though they named lands their own.
12 People, despite their wealth, do not endure; they are 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 fate of those who trust in themselves, and of their followers, who approve their sayings.
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Such is the fate of the foolhardy, the end of those who are pleased with their lot. (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 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 me from the realm of the dead; he will surely take me to himself.
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But God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol, for he will receive me. (Selah)
16 Do not be overawed when others grow rich, when the splendor of their houses increases;
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Do not be afraid when some become rich, when the wealth of their houses increases.
17 for they will take nothing with them when they die, their splendor will not descend with them.
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For when they die they will carry nothing away; their wealth will not go down after them.
18 Though while they live they count themselves blessed— and people praise you when you prosper—
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Though in their lifetime they count themselves happy —for you are praised when you do well for yourself—
19 they will join those who have gone before them, who will never again see the light of life.
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they will go to the company of their ancestors, who will never again see the light.
20 People who have wealth but lack understanding are like the beasts that perish.
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Mortals cannot abide in their pomp; they are like the animals that perish.
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.
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.