KJV 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.
VERSE STUDY • KJV
Psalm 62:9
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.
Read it in 5 translations
BSB Berean Standard Bible
Lowborn men are but a vapor; the exalted are but a lie. Weighed on the scale, they go up; together they are but a vapor.
WEB 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.
ASV 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.
YLT Young’s Literal Translation
Only—vanity are the low, a lie the high. In balances to go up they than vanity are lighter.
Surrounding context — Psalm 62
6 He only [is] my rock and my salvation: [he is] my defence; I shall not be moved.
7 In God [is] my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, [and] my refuge, [is] in God.
8 Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God [is] a refuge for us. Selah.
9 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.
10 Trust not in oppression, and become not vain in robbery: if riches increase, set not your heart [upon them].
11 God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power [belongeth] unto God.
12 Also unto thee, O Lord, [belongeth] mercy: for thou renderest to every man according to his work.
Topics connected to this verse
Original-language word links
These Hebrew/Greek tokens are linked by Strong's number. Click one for its lexicon definition and other occurrences.
אַ֤ךְ׀H389 · akhsurelyהֶ֥בֶלH1892 · he.velvanityבְּנֵֽי־H1121 · benson: childאָדָם֮H120 · a.dammanכָּזָ֪בH3577 · ka.zavlieבְּנֵ֫יH1121 · benson: childאִ֥ישׁH376 · ishmanבְּמֹאזְנַ֥יִםH3976 · mo.zenbalanceלַעֲל֑וֹתH5927 · a.lahto ascend: riseהֵ֝֗מָּהH1992 · hem.mahthey(masc.)מֵהֶ֥בֶלH1892 · he.velvanityיָֽחַד׃H3162 · ya.chadunitedness
Cross-references
Psalm 39:5Behold, 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.Isaiah 40:15Behold, 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.Isaiah 40:17All nations before him [are] as nothing; and they are counted to him less than nothing, and vanity.Psalm 118:9[It is] better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes.Psalm 39:11When thou with rebukes dost correct man for iniquity, thou makest his beauty to consume away like a moth: surely every man [is] vanity. Selah.2 Samuel 15:6And on this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment: so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.2 Samuel 15:31And [one] told David, saying, Ahithophel [is] among the conspirators with Absalom. And David said, O LORD, I pray thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.1 Samuel 18:21-26And 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.1 Samuel 23:19-20Then came up the Ziphites to Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not David hide himself with us in strong holds in the wood, in the hill of Hachilah, which [is] on the south of Jeshimon?Psalm 116:11I said in my haste, All men [are] liars.1 Samuel 18:5And 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.Romans 3:4God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.1 Samuel 23:12Then 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.Matthew 21:9And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed [is] he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.Daniel 5:27TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting.John 19:15But they cried out, Away with [him], away with [him], crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar.1 Samuel 18:7And the women answered [one another] as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.1 Samuel 26:21-25Then said Saul, I have sinned: return, my son David: for I will no more do thee harm, because my soul was precious in thine eyes this day: behold, I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly.
HISTORICAL INTERPRETATION
Compare classic commentaries on Psalm 62:9
Put Matthew Henry, Adam Clarke, Calvin, Wesley, Barnes, Jamieson–Fausset–Brown, Aquinas’ Catena and other public-domain sources beside the passage.
Compare commentaries →