Psalm 62:9 “Lowborn men are but a vapor; the exalted are but a lie. Weighed on the…”

Psalm 62:9

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.

Berean Standard Bible

Other translations

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.

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.

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.

Geneva Bible 1599

Yet the children of men are vanitie, the chiefe men are lies: to lay them vpon a balance they are altogether lighter then vanitie.

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.

Young's Literal Translation

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

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.

.mt-body { max-height: none !important; -webkit-mask-image: none !important; mask-image: none !important; } .mt-bar { display: none !important; } .o-trans::after { display: block !important; }

Cross references

“Surely”

Psalm 39:5 Psalm 39:11 1 Samuel 18:5 1 Samuel 23:12 2 Samuel 15:6 1 Samuel 18:7

Psalm 39:5 · BSB

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

Psalm 39:11 · BSB

You discipline and correct a man for his iniquity, consuming like a moth what he holds dear; surely each man is but a vapor. Selah

1 Samuel 18:5 · BSB

So David marched out and prospered in everything Saul sent him to do, and Saul set him over the men of war. And this was pleasing in the sight of all the people, and of Saul’s officers as well.

1 Samuel 23:12 · BSB

So David asked, “Will the citizens of Keilah surrender me and my men into the hand of Saul?” “They will,” said the LORD.

2 Samuel 15:6 · BSB

Absalom did this to all the Israelites who came to the king for justice. In this way he stole the hearts of the men of Israel.

1 Samuel 18:7 · BSB

And as the women danced, they sang out: “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.”

“of high”

Psalm 118:9 1 Samuel 18:21–26 2 Samuel 15:31 Romans 3:4 1 Samuel 26:21–25 Psalm 55:13

Psalm 118:9 · BSB

It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in princes.

1 Samuel 18:21–26 · BSB

“I will give her to David,” Saul thought, “so that she may be a snare to him, and the hand of the Philistines may be against him.” So Saul said to David, “For a second time now you can be my son-in-law.”

2 Samuel 15:31 · BSB

Now someone told David: “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” So David pleaded, “O LORD, please turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness!”

Romans 3:4 · BSB

Certainly not! Let God be true and every man a liar. As it is written: “So that You may be proved right when You speak and victorious when You judge.”

1 Samuel 26:21–25 · BSB

Then Saul replied, “I have sinned. Come back, David my son. I will never harm you again, because today you considered my life precious. I have played the fool and have committed a grave error!”

Psalm 55:13 · BSB

But it is you, a man like myself, my companion and close friend.

“laid”

Daniel 5:27

Daniel 5:27 · BSB

TEKEL means that you have been weighed on the scales and found deficient.

“lighter”

Isaiah 40:15 Isaiah 40:17

Isaiah 40:15 · BSB

Surely the nations are like a drop in a bucket; they are considered a speck of dust on the scales; He lifts up the islands like fine dust.

Isaiah 40:17 · BSB

All the nations are as nothing before Him; He regards them as nothingness and emptiness.

Also

Psalm 116:11

Psalm 116:11 · BSB

In my alarm I said, “All men are liars!”

Cross references adapted from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0) and the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

In context

8Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts before Him. God is our refuge. Selah

10Place no trust in extortion or false hope in stolen goods. If your riches increase, do not set your heart upon them.

Read Psalm 62