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Common people are as worthless as a puff of wind,
    and the powerful are not what they appear to be.
If you weigh them on the scales,
    together they are lighter than a breath of air.

10 Don’t make your living by extortion
    or put your hope in stealing.
And if your wealth increases,
    don’t make it the center of your life.

11 God has spoken plainly,
    and I have heard it many times:
Power, O God, belongs to you;
12     unfailing love, O Lord, is yours.
Surely you repay all people
    according to what they have done.

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Surely the lowborn(A) are but a breath,(B)
    the highborn are but a lie.
If weighed on a balance,(C) they are nothing;
    together they are only a breath.
10 Do not trust in extortion(D)
    or put vain hope in stolen goods;(E)
though your riches increase,
    do not set your heart on them.(F)

11 One thing God has spoken,
    two things I have heard:
“Power belongs to you, God,(G)
12     and with you, Lord, is unfailing love”;(H)
and, “You reward everyone
    according to what they have done.”(I)

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