Psalm 62:9


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.

Psalm 39:5


“Behold, You have made my days as [short as] hand widths,
And my lifetime is as nothing in Your sight.
Surely every man at his best is a mere breath [a wisp of smoke, a vapor that vanishes]! Selah.

Isaiah 40:15


In fact, the nations are like a drop from a bucket,
And are regarded as a speck of dust on the scales;
Now look, He lifts up the islands like fine dust.

Isaiah 40:17


All the nations are as nothing before Him,
They are regarded by Him as less than nothing and meaningless.

Psalm 39:11


“With rebukes You discipline man for sin;
You consume like a moth what is precious to him;
Surely every man is a mere breath [a wisp of smoke, a vapor that vanishes]. Selah.

1 Samuel 18:5

So David went out wherever Saul sent him, and he acted wisely and prospered; and Saul appointed him over the men of war. And it pleased all the people and also Saul’s servants.

1 Samuel 18:7

The women sang as they played and danced, saying,“Saul has slain his thousands,
And David his ten thousands.”

1 Samuel 18:21-26

Saul said, “I will give her to him so that she may become a snare (bad influence, source of trouble) to him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him.” So Saul said to David for a second time, “You shall be my son-in-law today.”

1 Samuel 23:12

Then David asked, “Will the men of Keilah surrender me and my men to Saul?” The Lord said, “They will surrender you.”

1 Samuel 23:19-20

Then the Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah, saying, “Is David not hiding with us in strongholds of Horesh, on the hill of Hachilah, which is south of Jeshimon?

1 Samuel 26:21-25

Then Saul said, “I have sinned. Return, my son David, for I will not harm you again because my life was precious in your sight this day. Hear me, I have played the fool and have done a very great wrong [to you].”

2 Samuel 15:6

This is how Absalom dealt with everyone in Israel who came to the king for judgment. So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.

2 Samuel 15:31

David was told, “Ahithophel [your counselor] is among the conspirators with Absalom.” David said, “O Lord, I pray You, turn Ahithophel’s counsel into foolishness.”

Psalm 55:13-14


But it is you, a man my equal and my counsel,
My companion and my familiar friend;

Psalm 116:11


I said in my alarm,
“All men are liars.”

Psalm 118:9


It is better to take refuge in the Lord
Than to trust in princes.

Daniel 5:27

tekel’—you have been weighed on the scales [of righteousness] and found deficient;

Matthew 21:9

The crowds that went ahead of Him, and those that followed Him, were shouting [in praise and adoration],

Hosanna to the Son of David (Messiah);
Blessed [praised, glorified] is He who comes in the name of the Lord;
Hosanna in the highest [heaven]!”

John 19:15

But they shouted, “Away with Him, away with Him, crucify Him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar!”

Romans 3:4

Certainly not! Let God be found true [as He will be], though every person be found a liar, just as it is written [in Scripture],

That You may be justified in Your words,
And prevail when You are judged [by sinful men].”

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Summary

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.

Lighter

Bible References

Surely

Psalm 39:5

“Behold, You have made my days as [short as] hand widths,
And my lifetime is as nothing in Your sight.
Surely every man at his best is a mere breath [a wisp of smoke, a vapor that vanishes]! Selah.
1 Samuel 18:5
So David went out wherever Saul sent him, and he acted wisely and prospered; and Saul appointed him over the men of war. And it pleased all the people and also Saul’s servants.
1 Samuel 23:12
Then David asked, “Will the men of Keilah surrender me and my men to Saul?” The Lord said, “They will surrender you.”
2 Samuel 15:6
This is how Absalom dealt with everyone in Israel who came to the king for judgment. So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.
Matthew 21:9
The crowds that went ahead of Him, and those that followed Him, were shouting [in praise and adoration],

Hosanna to the Son of David (Messiah);
Blessed [praised, glorified] is He who comes in the name of the Lord;
Hosanna in the highest [heaven]!”
John 19:15
But they shouted, “Away with Him, away with Him, crucify Him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar!”

Of high

Psalm 55:13

But it is you, a man my equal and my counsel,
My companion and my familiar friend;
Psalm 118:9

It is better to take refuge in the Lord
Than to trust in princes.
1 Samuel 18:21
Saul said, “I will give her to him so that she may become a snare (bad influence, source of trouble) to him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him.” So Saul said to David for a second time, “You shall be my son-in-law today.”
1 Samuel 26:21
Then Saul said, “I have sinned. Return, my son David, for I will not harm you again because my life was precious in your sight this day. Hear me, I have played the fool and have done a very great wrong [to you].”
2 Samuel 15:31
David was told, “Ahithophel [your counselor] is among the conspirators with Absalom.” David said, “O Lord, I pray You, turn Ahithophel’s counsel into foolishness.”
Romans 3:4
Certainly not! Let God be found true [as He will be], though every person be found a liar, just as it is written [in Scripture],

That You may be justified in Your words,
And prevail when You are judged [by sinful men].”

Laid

Daniel 5:27
tekel’—you have been weighed on the scales [of righteousness] and found deficient;

Lighter

Isaiah 40:15

In fact, the nations are like a drop from a bucket,
And are regarded as a speck of dust on the scales;
Now look, He lifts up the islands like fine dust.

General references

Psalm 49:2

Both low and high,
Rich and poor together:
Psalm 118:8

It is better to take refuge in the Lord
Than to trust in man.
Ecclesiastes 1:2

“Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher.
“Vanity of vanities! All [that is done without God’s guidance] is vanity [futile, meaningless—a wisp of smoke, a vapor that vanishes, merely chasing the wind].”
Ecclesiastes 12:8
“Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher. “All [that is done without God’s guidance] is vanity (futility).”