New Revised Standard NRS
New International Version NIV
1 Hear this, all you peoples; give ear, all inhabitants of the world,
1
Hear this, all you peoples; listen, all who live in this world,
2 both low and high, rich and poor together.
2
both low and high, rich and poor alike:
3 My mouth shall speak wisdom; the meditation of my heart shall be understanding.
3
My mouth will speak words of wisdom; the meditation of my heart will give you understanding.
4 I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will solve my riddle to the music of the harp.
4
I will turn my ear to a proverb; with the harp I will expound my riddle:
5 Why should I fear in times of trouble, when the iniquity of my persecutors surrounds me,
5
Why should I fear when evil days come, when wicked deceivers surround me—
6 those who trust in their wealth and boast of the abundance of their riches?
6
those who trust in their wealth and boast of their great riches?
7 Truly, no ransom avails for one's life, there is no price one can give to God for it.
7
No one can redeem the life of another or give to God a ransom for them—
8 For the ransom of life is costly, and can never suffice,
8
the ransom for a life is costly, no payment is ever enough—
9 that one should live on forever and never see the grave.
9
so that they should live on forever and not see decay.
10 When we look at the wise, they die; fool and dolt perish together and leave their wealth to others.
10
For all can see that the wise die, that the foolish and the senseless also perish, leaving their wealth to others.
11 Their graves are their homes forever, their dwelling places to all generations, though they named lands their own.
11
Their tombs will remain their houses forever, their dwellings for endless generations, though they had named lands after themselves.
12 Mortals cannot abide in their pomp; they are like the animals that perish.
12
People, despite their wealth, do not endure; they are like the beasts that perish.
13 Such is the fate of the foolhardy, the end of those who are pleased with their lot. (Selah)
13
This is the fate of those who trust in themselves, and of their followers, who approve their sayings.
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.
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.
15 But God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol, for he will receive me. (Selah)
15
But God will redeem me from the realm of the dead; he will surely take me to himself.
16 Do not be afraid when some become rich, when the wealth of their houses increases.
16
Do not be overawed when others grow rich, when the splendor of their houses increases;
17 For when they die they will carry nothing away; their wealth will not go down after them.
17
for they will take nothing with them when they die, their splendor will not descend with them.
18 Though in their lifetime they count themselves happy —for you are praised when you do well for yourself—
18
Though while they live they count themselves blessed— and people praise you when you prosper—
19 they will go to the company of their ancestors, who will never again see the light.
19
they will join those who have gone before them, who will never again see the light of life.
20 Mortals cannot abide in their pomp; they are like the animals that perish.
20
People who have wealth but lack understanding are like the beasts that perish.
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.
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.