Septuagint Bible w/ Apocrypha LXX
New Revised Standard w/ Apocrypha NRSA
1 Great travail is created for every man, and an heavy yoke is upon the sons of Adam, from the day that they go out of their mother's womb, till the day that they return to the mother of all things.
1
Hard work was created for everyone, and a heavy yoke is laid on the children of Adam, from the day they come forth from their mother's womb until the day they return to the mother of all the living.
2 Their imagination of things to come, and the day of death, their thoughts, and fear of heart;
2
Perplexities and fear of heart are theirs, and anxious thought of the day of their death.
3 From him that sitteth on a throne of glory, unto him that is humbled in earth and ashes;
3
From the one who sits on a splendid throne to the one who grovels in dust and ashes,
4 From him that weareth purple and a crown, unto him that is clothed with a linen frock.
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from the one who wears purple and a crown to the one who is clothed in burlap,
5 Wrath, and envy, trouble, and unquietness, fear of death, and anger, and strife, and in the time of rest upon his bed his night sleep, do change his knowledge.
5
there is anger and envy and trouble and unrest, and fear of death, and fury and strife. And when one rests upon his bed, his sleep at night confuses his mind.
6 A little or nothing is his rest, and afterward he is in his sleep, as in a day of keeping watch, troubled in the vision of his heart, as if he were escaped out of a battle.
6
He gets little or no rest; he struggles in his sleep as he did by day. He is troubled by the visions of his mind like one who has escaped from the battlefield.
7 When all is safe, he awaketh, and marvelleth that the fear was nothing.
7
At the moment he reaches safety he wakes up, astonished that his fears were groundless.
8 unto all flesh, both man and beast, and that is sevenfold more upon sinners.
8
To all creatures, human and animal, but to sinners seven times more,
9 Death, and bloodshed, strife, and sword, calamities, famine, tribulation, and the scourge;
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come death and bloodshed and strife and sword, calamities and famine and ruin and plague.
10 These things are created for the wicked, and for their sakes came the flood.
10
All these were created for the wicked, and on their account the flood came.
11 All things that are of the earth shall turn to the earth again: and that which is of the waters doth return into the sea.
11
All that is of earth returns to earth, and what is from above returns above.
12 All bribery and injustice shall be blotted out: but true dealing shall endure for ever.
12
All bribery and injustice will be blotted out, but good faith will last forever.
13 The goods of the unjust shall be dried up like a river, and shall vanish with noise, like a great thunder in rain.
13
The wealth of the unjust will dry up like a river, and crash like a loud clap of thunder in a storm.
14 While he openeth his hand he shall rejoice: so shall transgressors come to nought.
14
As a generous person has cause to rejoice, so lawbreakers will utterly fail.
15 The children of the ungodly shall not bring forth many branches: but are as unclean roots upon a hard rock.
15
The children of the ungodly put out few branches; they are unhealthy roots on sheer rock.
16 The weed growing upon every water and bank of a river shall be pulled up before all grass.
16
The reeds by any water or river bank are plucked up before any grass;
17 Bountifulness is as a most fruitful garden, and mercifulness endureth for ever.
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but kindness is like a garden of blessings, and almsgiving endures forever.
18 To labour, and to be content with that a man hath, is a sweet life: but he that findeth a treasure is above them both.
18
Wealth and wages make life sweet, but better than either is finding a treasure.
19 Children and the building of a city continue a man's name: but a blameless wife is counted above them both.
19
Children and the building of a city establish one's name, but better than either is the one who finds wisdom. Cattle and orchards make one prosperous; but a blameless wife is accounted better than either.
20 Wine and musick rejoice the heart: but the love of wisdom is above them both.
20
Wine and music gladden the heart, but the love of friends is better than either.
21 The pipe and the psaltery make sweet melody: but a pleasant tongue is above them both.
21
The flute and the harp make sweet melody, but a pleasant voice is better than either.
22 Thine eye desireth favour and beauty: but more than both corn while it is green.
22
The eye desires grace and beauty, but the green shoots of grain more than either.
23 A friend and companion never meet amiss: but above both is a wife with her husband.
23
A friend or companion is always welcome, but a sensible wife is better than either.
24 Brethren and help are against time of trouble: but alms shall deliver more than them both.
24
Kindred and helpers are for a time of trouble, but almsgiving rescues better than either.
25 Gold and silver make the foot stand sure: but counsel is esteemed above them both.
25
Gold and silver make one stand firm, but good counsel is esteemed more than either.
26 Riches and strength lift up the heart: but the fear of the Lord is above them both: there is no want in the fear of the Lord, and it needeth not to seek help.
26
Riches and strength build up confidence, but the fear of the Lord is better than either. There is no want in the fear of the Lord, and with it there is no need to seek for help.
27 The fear of the Lord is a fruitful garden, and covereth him above all glory.
27
The fear of the Lord is like a garden of blessing, and covers a person better than any glory.
28 My son, lead not a beggar's life; for better it is to die than to beg.
28
My child, do not lead the life of a beggar; it is better to die than to beg.
29 The life of him that dependeth on another man's table is not to be counted for a life; for he polluteth himself with other men's meat: but a wise man well nurtured will beware thereof.
29
When one looks to the table of another, one's way of life cannot be considered a life. One loses self-respect with another person's food, but one who is intelligent and well instructed guards against that.
30 Begging is sweet in the mouth of the shameless: but in his belly there shall burn a fire.
30
In the mouth of the shameless begging is sweet, but it kindles a fire inside him.
The Brenton translation of the Septuagint is in the public domain.
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.