Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version Surely the lowborn are but a breath, the highborn are but a lie. If weighed on a balance, they are nothing; together they are only a breath. New Living Translation Common people are as worthless as a puff of wind, and the powerful are not what they appear to be. If you weigh them on the scales, together they are lighter than a breath of air. English Standard Version Those of low estate are but a breath; those of high estate are a delusion; in the balances they go up; they are together lighter than a breath. Berean Standard Bible Lowborn men are but a vapor, the exalted but a lie. Weighed on the scale, they go up; together they are but a vapor. King James Bible Surely men of low degree are vanity, and men of high degree are a lie: to be laid in the balance, they are altogether lighter than vanity. New King James Version Surely men of low degree are a vapor, Men of high degree are a lie; If they are weighed on the scales, They are altogether lighter than vapor. New American Standard Bible People of low standing are only breath, and people of rank are a lie; In the balances they go up. Together they are lighter than breath. NASB 1995 Men of low degree are only vanity and men of rank are a lie; In the balances they go up; They are together lighter than breath. NASB 1977 Men of low degree are only vanity, and men of rank are a lie; In the balances they go up; They are together lighter than breath. Legacy Standard Bible Surely men of low degree are merely vanity and men of rank are a lie; In the balances they go up; They are together lighter than a breath of vanity. Amplified Bible Men of low degree are only a breath (emptiness), and men of [high] rank are a lie (delusion). In the balances they go up [because they have no measurable weight or value]; They are together lighter than a breath. Christian Standard Bible Common people are only a vapor; important people, an illusion. Together on a scale, they weigh less than a vapor. Holman Christian Standard Bible Men are only a vapor; exalted men, an illusion. Weighed in the scales, they go up; together they are less than a vapor. American Standard Version Surely men of low degree are vanity, and men of high degree are a lie: In the balances they will go up; They are together lighter than vanity. Contemporary English Version We humans are only a breath; none of us are truly great. All of us together weigh less than a puff of air. English Revised Version Surely men of low degree are vanity, and men of high degree are a lie: in the balances they will go up; they are together lighter than vanity. GOD'S WORD® Translation Common people are only a whisper in the wind. Important people are only a delusion. When all of them are weighed on a scale, they amount to nothing. They are less than a whisper in the wind. Good News Translation Human beings are all like a puff of breath; great and small alike are worthless. Put them on the scales, and they weigh nothing; they are lighter than a mere breath. International Standard Version Human beings are a mere vapor, while people in high positions are not what they appear. When they are placed on the scales, they weigh nothing; even when weighed together, they are less than nothing. Majority Standard Bible Lowborn men are but a vapor, the exalted but a lie. Weighed on the scale, they go up; together they are but a vapor. NET Bible Men are nothing but a mere breath; human beings are unreliable. When they are weighed in the scales, all of them together are lighter than air. New Heart English Bible Surely men of low degree are just a breath, and men of high degree are a lie. In the balances they will go up. They are together lighter than a breath. Webster's Bible Translation Surely men of low degree are vanity, and men of high degree are a lie: to be laid in the balance, they are altogether lighter than vanity. World English Bible Surely men of low degree are just a breath, and men of high degree are a lie. In the balances they will go up. They are together lighter than a breath. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionSurely vanity the low, a lie the high. In balances to go up "" They [are] lighter than a breath. Young's Literal Translation Only -- vanity are the low, a lie the high. In balances to go up they than vanity are lighter. Smith's Literal Translation Surely the sons of man vanity, the sons of man falsehood: to be brought up into the balances, they together of vanity. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleBut vain are the sons of men, the sons of men are liars in the balances: that by vanity they may together deceive. Catholic Public Domain Version New American Bible Mortals are a mere breath, the sons of man but an illusion; On a balance they rise; together they weigh nothing. New Revised Standard Version Those of low estate are but a breath, those of high estate are a delusion; in the balances they go up; they are together lighter than a breath. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleSurely all untrue men are like vapor; when they are placed in the balance, they are found wanting. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And all the false children of men are like a vapor who are placed in a balance, and together they are worthless. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Men of low degree are vanity, and men of high degree are a lie; If they be laid in the balances, they are together lighter than vanity. Brenton Septuagint Translation But the sons of men are vain; the sons of men are false, so as to be deceitful in the balances; they are all alike formed out of vanity. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Waiting on God…8Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts before Him. God is our refuge. Selah 9Lowborn men are but a vapor, the exalted but a lie. Weighed on the scale, they go up; together they are but a vapor. 10Place no trust in extortion, or false hope in stolen goods. If your riches increase, do not set your heart upon them.… Cross References Isaiah 40:17 All the nations are as nothing before Him; He regards them as nothingness and emptiness. Isaiah 2:22 Put no more trust in man, who has only the breath in his nostrils. Of what account is he? Job 7:17-18 What is man that You should exalt him, that You should set Your heart upon him, / that You attend to him every morning, and test him every moment? Job 14:1-2 “Man, who is born of woman, is short of days and full of trouble. / Like a flower, he comes forth, then withers away; like a fleeting shadow, he does not endure. Ecclesiastes 1:2 “Futility of futilities,” says the Teacher, “futility of futilities! Everything is futile!” Ecclesiastes 6:11-12 For the more words, the more futility—and how does that profit anyone? / For who knows what is good for a man during the few days in which he passes through his fleeting life like a shadow? Who can tell a man what will come after him under the sun? Ecclesiastes 11:10 So banish sorrow from your heart, and cast off pain from your body, for youth and vigor are fleeting. James 4:14 You do not even know what will happen tomorrow! What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 1 Peter 1:24 For, “All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, 1 Corinthians 7:31 and those who use the things of this world, as if not dependent on them. For this world in its present form is passing away. 1 John 2:17 The world is passing away, along with its desires; but whoever does the will of God remains forever. Psalm 39:5-6 You, indeed, have made my days as handbreadths, and my lifetime as nothing before You. Truly each man at his best exists as but a breath. Selah / Surely every man goes about like a phantom; surely he bustles in vain; he heaps up riches not knowing who will haul them away. Psalm 144:4 Man is like a breath; his days are like a passing shadow. Proverbs 31:30 Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. Jeremiah 17:5 This is what the LORD says: “Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind, who makes mere flesh his strength and turns his heart from the LORD. Treasury of Scripture Surely men of low degree are vanity, and men of high degree are a lie: to be laid in the balance, they are altogether lighter than vanity. Surely Psalm 39:5,11 Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah… 1 Samuel 18:5,7 And David went out whithersoever Saul sent him, and behaved himself wisely: and Saul set him over the men of war, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul's servants… 1 Samuel 23:12,19,20 Then said David, Will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul? And the LORD said, They will deliver thee up… of high Psalm 55:13,14 But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance… Psalm 118:9 It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes. 1 Samuel 18:21-26 And Saul said, I will give him her, that she may be a snare to him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him. Wherefore Saul said to David, Thou shalt this day be my son in law in the one of the twain… laid Daniel 5:27 TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting. altogether. Isaiah 40:15,17 Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance: behold, he taketh up the isles as a very little thing… Jump to Previous Altogether Balance Balances Birth Breath Degree Delusion Estate High Laid Low Position Rank Seem Surely Together Vanity WeighedJump to Next Altogether Balance Balances Birth Breath Degree Delusion Estate High Laid Low Position Rank Seem Surely Together Vanity WeighedPsalm 62 1. David, professing his confidence in God, discourages his enemies5. In the same confidence he encourages the godly 9. No trust is to be put in worldly things 11. Power and mercy belong to God Lowborn men The Hebrew word for "lowborn" is "בְּנֵי אָדָם" (bene adam), which literally means "sons of Adam" or "sons of man." This phrase emphasizes the commonality and frailty of humanity. In the biblical context, it often refers to those of humble or ordinary status. The imagery of "vapor" suggests transience and insignificance, reminding us that regardless of social status, all humans share the same fleeting nature. This serves as a humbling reminder of our dependence on God, who is eternal and unchanging. are but a vapor the highborn are but a lie if weighed on a balance they are nothing together they are only a breath To be laid in the balance.--Literally, in the balances to go up, which may mean in the scales they must go up, i.e., kick the beam. But a slight change in one letter gives the more probable, when weighed in the scales. Verses 9-12. - "Here the psalmist becomes didactic" (Professor Cheyne). He encourages the faithful, and warns the wicked, by the declaration that men of every sort "are but vanity" - have no strength, no permanence - while power belongs only to God. Those who "oppress" and "rob" are, consequently, not to be feared - there is no strength in riches - God alone determines the issues of things. Unto him belongs mercy, or loving kindness - a quality which leads him not only to forgive men their transgressions, but to "reward" them, when, by his assisting grace, they have done good works. Verse 9. - Surely men of low degree are vanity, and men of high degree are a lie; rather, only vanity - or, nought but vanity - are men of low degree; common men, as we call them - mere sons of Adam. This is too evident for dispute; but, in the view of the psalmist, this is not the worst. "Men of high degree" (beney ish) are no better - they are "a lie" - an unreality - a fading, false illusion. To be laid in the balance; rather, in the balance, they go up (Hupfeld, Ewald Hitzig, Revised Version). They are altogether lighter than vanity; or, altogether made out of vanity (Kay); i.e. there is no substance, no solidity, in them.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Lowbornבְּנֵֽי־ (bə·nê-) Noun - masculine plural construct Strong's 1121: A son men אָדָם֮ (’ā·ḏām) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 120: Ruddy, a human being [are] but אַ֤ךְ ׀ (’aḵ) Adverb Strong's 389: A particle of affirmation, surely a vapor; הֶ֥בֶל (he·ḇel) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 1892: Emptiness, vanity, transitory, unsatisfactory the exalted בְּנֵ֫י (bə·nê) Noun - masculine plural construct Strong's 1121: A son but a lie. כָּזָ֪ב (kā·zāḇ) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 3577: A lie, falsehood, deceptive thing Weighed on the scale, בְּמֹאזְנַ֥יִם (bə·mō·zə·na·yim) Preposition-b | Noun - md Strong's 3976: A pair of scales they הֵ֝֗מָּה (hêm·māh) Pronoun - third person masculine plural Strong's 1992: They are pushed up; לַעֲל֑וֹת (la·‘ă·lō·wṯ) Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct Strong's 5927: To ascend, in, actively together יָֽחַד׃ (yā·ḥaḏ) Adverb Strong's 3162: A unit, unitedly they are but a breath. מֵהֶ֥בֶל (mê·he·ḇel) Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 1892: Emptiness, vanity, transitory, unsatisfactory Links Psalm 62:9 NIVPsalm 62:9 NLT Psalm 62:9 ESV Psalm 62:9 NASB Psalm 62:9 KJV Psalm 62:9 BibleApps.com Psalm 62:9 Biblia Paralela Psalm 62:9 Chinese Bible Psalm 62:9 French Bible Psalm 62:9 Catholic Bible OT Poetry: Psalm 62:9 Surely men of low degree are just (Psalm Ps Psa.) |
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