Psalms 62 · Verse 9

Psalms 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.
Psalms 62:9, King James Version

Psalms 62:9 in other translations

BSBLowborn men are but a vapor, the exalted but a lie. Weighed on the scale, they go up; together they are but a vapor.
WEBSurely 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.
ASVSurely 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.
YLTOnly--vanity are the low, a lie the high. In balances to go up they than vanity are lighter.
DARBYMen of low degree are only vanity; men of high degree, a lie: laid in the balance, they go up together lighter than vanity.
BBETruly 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.
WebsterSurely 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.

What does Psalms 62:9 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
9. No kind of men are reliable, compared with God (Is 2:22; Jr 17:5). altogether--alike, one as the other (Psa 34:3).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 9 Men of low degree are vanity - בני אדם beney Adam, which we here translate men of low degree, literally, sons of Adam, are put in opposition to בני איש beney ish, men of high degree, literally, the sons of substance, or children of substantial men. Adam was the name of the first man when formed out of the earth; Ish was his name when united to his wife, and they became one flesh. Before, he was the incomplete man; after, he was the complete man; for it seems, in the sight of God, it requires the male and female to make one complete human being. אנוש enosh is another name given to man, but this concerns him in his low, fallen, wretched estate: it properly signifies weak, poor, addicted, wretched man. Common men can give no help. They are vanity, and it is folly to trust in them; for although they may be willing, yet they have no ability to help you: "Rich men are a lie." They promise much, but perform nothing; they cause you to hope, but mock your expectation. To be laid to the balance - במאזנים לעלות bemozenayim laaloth, In the balances they ascend: exactly answerable to our phrase, they kick the beam. They are altogether lighter than vanity - Literally, Both of them united are vanity, המה מהבל יחד hemmah mehebel yachad. Put both together in one scale, and truth in the opposite, and both will kick the beam. They weigh nothing, they avail nothing.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Psalms 62:8-12

Those who have found the comfort of the ways of God themselves, will invite others into those ways; we shall never have the less for others sharing with us. the good counsel given is, to trust wholly in God. We must so trust in him at all times, as not at any time to put that trust in ourselves, or in any creature, which is to be put in him only. Trust in him to guide us when in doubt, to protect us when in danger…

Read the full comment on Psalms 62:8-12 →

Psalms 62:9 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

אַ֤ךְ\׀'akhonlyH389
הֶ֥בֶלHe.vel[are] a breathH1892
בְּנֵֽי\־be.nei-[the] children ofH1121
אָדָם֮'a.DamhumankindH120
כָּזָ֪בka.Zav[are] falsehoodH3577
בְּנֵ֫יbe.Nei[the] children ofH1121
אִ֥ישׁ'isheveryoneH376
בְּמֹאזְנַ֥יִםbe.mo.ze.Na.yimin [the] balancesH3976
לַעֲל֑וֹתla.'a.Lotto go upH5927
הֵ֝֗מָּהHe.mahtheyH1992
מֵהֶ֥בֶלme.He.vel[are] more than a breathH1892
יָֽחַד\׃Ya.chadtogetherH3162

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Psalms 62:9

  • Psalms 39:5

    Behold, 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 40:17

    All nations before him are as nothing; and they are counted to him less than nothing, and vanity.

  • Isaiah 40:15

    Behold, 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.

  • Psalms 118:9

    It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes.

  • Psalms 39:11

    When thou with rebukes dost correct man for iniquity, thou makest his beauty to consume away like a moth: surely every man is vanity. Selah.

  • 1 Samuel 23:19-20

    Then 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? Now therefore, O king, come down according to all the desire of thy soul to come down; and our part shall be to deliver him into the king’s hand.

  • 1 Samuel 18:21-26

    And 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. And Saul commanded his servants, saying, Commune with David secretly, and say, Behold, the king hath delight in thee, and all his servants love thee: now therefore be the king’s son in law. And Saul’s servants spake those words in the ears of David. And David said, Seemeth it to you a light thing to be a king’s son in law, seeing that I am a poor man, and lightly esteemed? And the servants of Saul told him, saying, On this manner spake David. …

  • Romans 3:4

    God 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 18:5

    And 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.

  • 1 Samuel 23:12

    Then 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.

  • 2 Samuel 15:6

    And 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.

  • Psalms 116:11

    I said in my haste, All men are liars.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Surely.
39:5,11; 1Sa 18:5,7; 23:12,19,20; 2Sa 15:6; Mt 21:9; Joh 19:15
of high.
55:13,14; 118:9; 1Sa 18:21-26; 26:21-25; 2Sa 15:31; Ro 3:4
laid.
Da 5:27
altogether. or, alike. lighter.
Isa 40:15,17

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Psalms 62:8

    Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.

  • Psalms 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.

  • Psalms 62:10

    Trust not in oppression, and become not vain in robbery: if riches increase, set not your heart upon them.

Read all of Psalms 62

Psalms 62:9 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Por cierto, vanidad son los hijos de los hombres, mentira los hijos de varón: pesándolos á todos igualmente en la balanza, serán menos que la vanidad.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Peuple, – confiez-vous en lui en tout temps, répandez votre cœur devant lui: Dieu est notre refuge. Sélah.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Nur Eitelkeit sind die Menschensöhne, Lüge die Männersöhne. Auf der Waagschale steigen sie empor, sie sind allesamt leichter als ein Hauch.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Adhæsit anima mea post te; me suscepit dextera tua.