Then Asa called to the Lord his God and said, “Lord, there is no one like you to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us, Lord our God, for we rely on you, and in your name we have come against this vast army. Lord, you are our God; do not let mere mortals prevail against you.”

He told them, “Consider carefully what you do, because you are not judging for mere mortals but for the Lord, who is with you whenever you give a verdict.

“Do not mortals have hard service on earth? Are not their days like those of hired laborers?

“Indeed, I know that this is true. But how can mere mortals prove their innocence before God?

“Mortals, born of woman, are of few days and full of trouble.

“What are mortals, that they could be pure, or those born of woman, that they could be righteous?

how much less mortals, who are vile and corrupt, who drink up evil like water!

Mortals put an end to the darkness; they search out the farthest recesses for ore in the blackest darkness.

“His eyes are on the ways of mortals; he sees their every step.

All humanity has seen it; mortals gaze on it from afar.

Arise, Lord, do not let mortals triumph; let the nations be judged in your presence.

defending the fatherless and the oppressed, so that mere earthly mortals will never again strike terror.

In God, whose word I praise— in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?

But you will die like mere mortals; you will fall like every other ruler.”

You turn people back to dust, saying, “Return to dust, you mortals.”

The life of mortals is like grass, they flourish like a flower of the field;

The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?

Lord, what are human beings that you care for them, mere mortals that you think of them?

Hopes placed in mortals die with them; all the promise of their power comes to nothing.

But the Egyptians are mere mortals and not God; their horses are flesh and not spirit. When the Lord stretches out his hand, those who help will stumble, those who are helped will fall; all will perish together.

“Assyria will fall by no human sword; a sword, not of mortals, will devour them. They will flee before the sword and their young men will be put to forced labor.

“Hear me, you who know what is right, you people who have taken my instruction to heart: Do not fear the reproach of mere mortals or be terrified by their insults.

“I, even I, am he who comforts you. Who are you that you fear mere mortals, human beings who are but grass,

Therefore no other trees by the waters are ever to tower proudly on high, lifting their tops above the thick foliage. No other trees so well-watered are ever to reach such a height; they are all destined for death, for the earth below, among mortals who go down to the realm of the dead.

So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?”