International Standard Version | New International Version |
1Listen to this, all you people! Pay attention, all you who live in the world, | 1For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm. Hear this, all you peoples; listen, all who live in this world, |
2both average people and those of means, the rich and the poor together. | 2both low and high, rich and poor alike: |
3My mouth will speak wisely, and I will understand what I think about. | 3My mouth will speak words of wisdom; the meditation of my heart will give you understanding. |
4I will focus my attention on a proverb; I will use the harp to expound my riddle. | 4I will turn my ear to a proverb; with the harp I will expound my riddle: |
5Why should I be afraid when evil days come my way, when the wickedness of those who deceive me surrounds me— | 5Why should I fear when evil days come, when wicked deceivers surround me-- |
6those who put confidence in their wealth and boast about their great riches? | 6those who trust in their wealth and boast of their great riches? |
7No man can redeem the life of another, nor can he give to God a sufficient payment for him— | 7No one can redeem the life of another or give to God a ransom for them-- |
8for it would cost too much to redeem his life, and the payments would go on forever— | 8the ransom for a life is costly, no payment is ever enough-- |
9that he should go on living and not see corruption. | 9so that they should live on forever and not see decay. |
10Indeed, he will see wise people die; the stupid and the senseless will meet their doom and leave their wealth to others. | 10For all can see that the wise die, that the foolish and the senseless also perish, leaving their wealth to others. |
11Their inner thoughts are on their homes forever; their dwellings from generation to generation. They even name their lands after themselves. | 11Their tombs will remain their houses forever, their dwellings for endless generations, though they had named lands after themselves. |
12But humanity cannot last, despite its conceit; it will pass away just like the animals. | 12People, despite their wealth, do not endure; they are like the beasts that perish. |
13This is the fate of those who are foolish and of those who correct their words after they speak. Interlude | 13This is the fate of those who trust in themselves, and of their followers, who approve their sayings. |
14Like sheep, they are destined for the realm of the dead, with death as their shepherd. The upright will have dominion over them in the morning; their strength will be consumed in the afterlife, so that they have no home. | 14They 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. |
15God will truly redeem me from the power of Sheol. He will surely receive me! Interlude | 15But God will redeem me from the realm of the dead; he will surely take me to himself. |
16Don't be afraid when someone gets rich, when the glory of his household increases. | 16Do not be overawed when others grow rich, when the splendor of their houses increases; |
17When he dies, he will not be able to take it all with him — his possessions will not follow him to the grave, | 17for they will take nothing with them when they die, their splendor will not descend with them. |
18although he considers himself blessed while he's alive. Though people praise you for doing well, | 18Though while they live they count themselves blessed-- and people praise you when you prosper-- |
19you will end up like your ancestors' generation, never again to see the light of day! | 19they will join those who have gone before them, who will never again see the light of life. |
20Humanity, despite its conceit, does not understand that it will perish, just like the animals. | 20People who have wealth but lack understanding are like the beasts that perish. |
The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. | New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. |
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