Parallel Verses

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.

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.

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, you people. Pour out your hearts in his presence. God is our refuge. 9 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.
10 Do not count on extortion to make you rich. Do not hope to gain anything through robbery. When riches increase, do not depend on them.

Cross References

Psalm 39:5

Indeed, you have made the length of my days very short. My life span is nothing compared to yours. Certainly, everyone alive is like a whisper in the wind.

Isaiah 40:15

Truly the nations are like a drop in a bucket! They are regarded as dust on the scales! He weighs the islands as though they were fine dust.

Isaiah 40:17

Before him all the nations are as nothing! He regards them as worthless and less than nothing.

Psalm 39:11

With stern reproof you discipline people for their iniquity. Like a moth you consume what is dear to them. Certainly, everyone is like a breath of air.

1 Samuel 18:5

So David did everything Saul sent him to do successfully. Saul made him a commander in his army. This pleased the people and Saul's servants.

1 Samuel 18:7

The women who celebrated sang: Saul has defeated thousands but David tens of thousands!

1 Samuel 18:21-26

He said to himself: I will give Michal to David. I will use her to trap him. The Philistines will kill him. So for the second time Saul said to David: You will be my son-in-law.

1 Samuel 23:12

Will the citizens of Keilah hand my men and me over to Saul? David asked. Jehovah answered: They will hand you over.

1 Samuel 23:19-20

Some people from the town of Ziph went to Saul at Gibeah. They said: Your Majesty, David has a hideout not far from us! It is near Horesh. It is somewhere on Mount Hachilah south of Jeshimon.

1 Samuel 26:21-25

My servant David, Saul said, I have sinned. Come back. I will not harm you again. You valued my life today. I have acted like a fool. I made a terrible mistake.

2 Samuel 15:6

Absalom did this with every Israelite who came to the king for judgment. That way he won their loyalty.

2 Samuel 15:31

Someone told David: Ahithophel is helping Absalom conspire against you! David said: Please Jehovah keep Ahithophel's plans from working!

Psalm 55:13-14

But it is you, my equal, my close friend, and a well-known companion!

Psalm 116:11

I also said when I was panic-stricken: All men are liars.

Psalm 118:9

It is better to trust in Jehovah than to depend on human leaders.

Daniel 5:27

TEKEL: you are weighed in the balances, and are found wanting.

Matthew 21:9

Those going ahead of him and following him shouted praise: Glory to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of Jehovah! Glory in the highest! (Psalms 118:26)

John 19:15

They cried out: Away with him, away with him, impale him! Pilate asked: Should I impale your King? The chief priests answered: We have no king but Caesar.

Romans 3:4

Certainly not! But let God be true, and every man false. It is written: So that you should be proved righteous in your words and should overcome 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