19 The small and great are there; and the servant is free from his master.

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19 The small and the great are there,(A)
    and the slaves are freed from their owners.

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23 For I know that thou wilt bring me to death, and to the house appointed for all living.

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23 I know you will bring me down to death,(A)
    to the place appointed for all the living.(B)

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27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

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27 Just as people are destined to die once,(A) and after that to face judgment,(B)

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22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;

23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

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22 “The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side.

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Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

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and the dust returns(A) to the ground it came from,
    and the spirit returns to God(B) who gave it.(C)

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Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail: because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets:

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when people are afraid of heights
    and of dangers in the streets;
when the almond tree blossoms
    and the grasshopper drags itself along
    and desire no longer is stirred.
Then people go to their eternal home(A)
    and mourners(B) go about the streets.

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There is no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither hath he power in the day of death: and there is no discharge in that war; neither shall wickedness deliver those that are given to it.

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As no one has power over the wind to contain it,
    so[a] no one has power over the time of their death.
As no one is discharged in time of war,
    so wickedness will not release those who practice it.

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Footnotes

  1. Ecclesiastes 8:8 Or over the human spirit to retain it, / and so

14 Like sheep they are laid in the grave; death shall feed on them; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their beauty shall consume in the grave from their dwelling.

15 But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me. Selah.

16 Be not thou afraid when one is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased;

17 For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away: his glory shall not descend after him.

18 Though while he lived he blessed his soul: and men will praise thee, when thou doest well to thyself.

19 He shall go to the generation of his fathers; they shall never see light.

20 Man that is in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish.

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14 They are like sheep and are destined(A) to die;(B)
    death will be their shepherd
    (but the upright will prevail(C) over them in the morning).
Their forms will decay in the grave,
    far from their princely mansions.
15 But God will redeem me from the realm of the dead;(D)
    he will surely take me to himself.(E)
16 Do not be overawed when others grow rich,
    when the splendor of their houses increases;
17 for they will take nothing(F) with them when they die,
    their splendor will not descend with them.(G)
18 Though while they live they count themselves blessed—(H)
    and people praise you when you prosper—
19 they will join those who have gone before them,(I)
    who will never again see the light(J) of life.

20 People who have wealth but lack understanding(K)
    are like the beasts that perish.(L)

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They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches;

None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him:

(For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever:)

That he should still live for ever, and not see corruption.

10 For he seeth that wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to others.

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those who trust in their wealth(A)
    and boast(B) of their great riches?(C)
No one can redeem the life of another
    or give to God a ransom for them—
the ransom(D) for a life is costly,
    no payment is ever enough—(E)
so that they should live on(F) forever
    and not see decay.(G)
10 For all can see that the wise die,(H)
    that the foolish and the senseless(I) also perish,
    leaving their wealth(J) to others.(K)

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Both low and high, rich and poor, together.

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both low and high,(A)
    rich and poor alike:

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