New Revised Standard NRS
The Bible in Basic English BBE
1 Hear this, all you peoples; give ear, all inhabitants of the world,
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<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 together.
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High and low together, the poor, and those who have wealth.
3 My mouth shall speak wisdom; the meditation of my heart shall be understanding.
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From my mouth will come words of wisdom; and in the thoughts of my heart will be knowledge.
4 I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will solve my riddle to the music of the harp.
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I will put my teaching into a story; I will make my dark sayings clear with music.
5 Why should I fear in times of trouble, when the iniquity of my persecutors surrounds me,
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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 the abundance of their riches?
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Even of those whose faith is in their wealth, and whose hearts are lifted up because of their stores.
7 Truly, no ransom avails for one's life, there is no price one can give to God for it.
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Truly, no man may get back his soul for a price, or give to God the payment for himself;
8 For the ransom of life is costly, and can never suffice,
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(Because it takes a great price to keep his soul from death, and man is not able to give it.)
9 that one should live on forever and never see the grave.
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So that he might have eternal life, and never see the underworld.
10 When we look at the wise, they die; fool and dolt perish together and leave their wealth to others.
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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 graves are their homes forever, their dwelling places to all generations, though they named lands their own.
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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 Mortals cannot abide in their pomp; they are like the animals that perish.
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But man, like the animals, does not go on for ever; he comes to an end like the beasts.
13 Such is the fate of the foolhardy, the end of those who are pleased with their lot. (Selah)
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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 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.
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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 ransom my soul from the power of Sheol, for he will receive me. (Selah)
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But God will get back my soul; for he will take me from the power of death. (Selah.)
16 Do not be afraid when some become rich, when the wealth of their houses increases.
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Have no fear when wealth comes to a man, and the glory of his house is increased;
17 For when they die they will carry nothing away; their wealth will not go down after them.
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For at his death, he will take nothing away; his glory will not go down after him.
18 Though in their lifetime they count themselves happy —for you are praised when you do well for yourself—
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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 go to the company of their ancestors, who will never again see the light.
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He will go to the generation of his fathers; he will not see the light again.
20 Mortals cannot abide in their pomp; they are like the animals that perish.
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Man, like the animals, does not go on for ever; he comes to an end like the beasts.
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.
The Bible in Basic English is in the public domain.