³ Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy on us,
    for we have endured no end of contempt.
⁴ We have endured no end
    of ridicule from the arrogant,
    of contempt from the proud.

² “Dominion and awe belong to God;^(B)
    he establishes order in the heights of heaven.^(C)
3 Can his forces be numbered?
    On whom does his light not rise?^(D)
4 How then can a mortal be righteous before God?
    How can one born of woman be pure?^(E)
5 If even the moon^(F) is not bright
    and the stars are not pure in his eyes,^(G)
6 how much less a mortal, who is but a maggot—
    a human being,^(H) who is only a worm!”^(I)

² “How you have helped the powerless!^(J)
    How you have saved the arm that is feeble!^(K)
3 What advice you have offered to one without wisdom!
    And what great insight^(L) you have displayed!
⁴ Who has helped you utter these words?
    And whose spirit spoke from your mouth?^(M)

⁵ “The dead are in deep anguish,^(N)
    those beneath the waters and all that live in them.
⁶ The realm of the dead^(O) is naked before God;
    Destruction^[a](P) lies uncovered.^(Q)
7 He spreads out the northern skies^(R) over empty space;
    he suspends the earth over nothing.^(S)
8 He wraps up the waters^(T) in his clouds,^(U)
    yet the clouds do not burst under their weight.
⁹ He covers the face of the full moon,
    spreading his clouds^(V) over it.
¹⁰ He marks out the horizon on the face of the waters^(W)
    for a boundary between light and darkness.^(X)
11 The pillars of the heavens quake,^(Y)
    aghast at his rebuke.
¹² By his power he churned up the sea;^(Z)
    by his wisdom^(AA) he cut Rahab^(AB) to pieces.
¹³ By his breath the skies^(AC) became fair;
    his hand pierced the gliding serpent.^(AD)
14 And these are but the outer fringe of his works;
    how faint the whisper^(AE) we hear of him!^(AF)
    Who then can understand the thunder of his power?”^(AG)