Parallel Verses

Lexham Expanded Bible

Only a vapor [are] men of low degree, a deception [are] men of high degree. {Weighed} in a balance, together they [are lighter] than a vapor.

New American Standard Bible

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.

King James Version

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.

Holman Bible

Men are only a vapor;
exalted men, an illusion.
Weighed in the scales, they go up;
together they are less than a vapor.

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.

A Conservative 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.

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.

Amplified


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.

Bible in Basic English

Truly men of low birth are nothing, and men of high position are not what they seem; if they are put in the scales together they are less than a breath.

Darby Translation

Men of low degree are only vanity; men of high degree, a lie: laid in the balance, they go up together lighter than vanity.

Julia Smith Translation

Surely the sons of man vanity, the sons of man falsehood: to be brought up into the balances, they together of vanity.

King James 2000

Surely men of low degree are vanity, and men of high degree are a lie: if laid on the balance, they are altogether lighter than vanity.

Modern King James verseion

Surely the sons of men are vanity; the sons of men are a lie; they go up in the scales; they are altogether lighter than vanity.

Modern Spelling Tyndale-Coverdale

As for men they are but vanity; the children of men are deceitful. Upon the weights they are altogether lighter than vanity itself.

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.

The Emphasized Bible

Surely, vanity, are men of low degree, Deception, men of high degree, - In the balances, they go up, They, are made of vanity, altogether.

Webster

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.

Youngs Literal Translation

Only -- vanity are the low, a lie the high. In balances to go up they than vanity are lighter.

References

Easton

Fausets

Context Readings

Trust In God Alone

8 Trust him at all times, O people; pour out before him your heart. God [is] a refuge for us. Selah 9 Only a vapor [are] men of low degree, a deception [are] men of high degree. {Weighed} in a balance, together they [are lighter] than a vapor. 10 Do not trust in extortion, and do not put vain [confidence] in robbery. If wealth increases, do not set [your] heart [on it].


Cross References

Psalm 39:5

Look, you have made my days [mere] handbreadths, and my lifespan as nothing next to you. Surely every person standing firm [is] complete vanity. Selah

Isaiah 40:15

Look! [The] nations [are] like a drop from a bucket, and they are counted like dust of [the] balances! Look! He weighs [the] islands like a thin covering.

Isaiah 40:17

All the nations [are] like nothing before him; they are counted by him as nothing and emptiness.

Psalm 39:11

[When] with rebukes you chastise a man for sin, you {consume} like a moth his delightful [things]. Surely everyone [is] a [mere] vapor. Selah

1 Samuel 18:5

David went out {whenever} Saul sent him, [and] he succeeded. So Saul appointed him over the men of the war, and it {pleased} all the people and even {pleased} the servants of Saul.

1 Samuel 18:7

And the women sang as they danced, and they said, "Saul has struck down his thousands, but David his ten thousands!"

1 Samuel 18:21-26

And Saul thought, "I will give her to him, so that she may be a snare for him and the hand of [the] Philistines may be against him." So Saul said to David, "For a second [time] you can become my son-in-law today."

1 Samuel 23:12

Then David said, "Will the rulers of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul?" And Yahweh said, "They will deliver [you]."

1 Samuel 23:19-20

Then [the] Ziphites went up to Saul at Gibeah, saying, "[Is] not David hiding among us in the strongholds at Horesh on the hill of Hakilah, which [is] south of Jeshimon

1 Samuel 26:21-25

Then Saul said, "I have sinned! Come back, David my son, for I will not harm you again, because my life [was] precious in your eyes this day. Look, I have acted like a fool and {have made a terrible mistake}."

2 Samuel 15:6

Absalom did like this to all of Israel who came to the king for judgment; so Absalom stole the hearts of the people of Israel.

2 Samuel 15:31

Now David [was] told, "Ahithophel [was] among the conspirators with Absalom." Then David said, "Please frustrate the counsel of Ahithophel, O Yahweh."

Psalm 55:13-14

But [it is] you, a man my equal, my friend and confidant.

Psalm 116:11

I said in my haste, "{Everyone} [is] a liar."

Psalm 118:9

[It is] better to take refuge in Yahweh than to trust princes.

Daniel 5:27

" 'Tekel'--you have been weighed on scales and you have been found wanting.

Matthew 21:9

And the crowds who went ahead of him and the ones who followed were shouting, saying, "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed [is] the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest [heaven]!"

John 19:15

Then those shouted, "Away [with him]! Away [with him]! Crucify him!" Pilate said to them, "Shall I crucify your king?" The chief priests replied, "We do not have a king except Caesar!"

Romans 3:4

May it never be! But let God be true but every human being a liar, just as it is written, "In order that you may be justified in your words, and may prevail when you are judged."

King James Version Public Domain

Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers.

International Standard Version Copyright © 1996-2008 by the ISV Foundation.

New American Standard Bible Copyright ©1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org

American Standard Version Public Domain

NET Bible copyright © 1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. NetBible

Basic English, produced by Mr C. K. Ogden of the Orthological Institute - public domain