¹⁶ I will not accuse^(A) them forever,
    nor will I always be angry,^(B)
for then they would faint away because of me—
    the very people^(C) I have created.

¹⁸ Who is a God^(A) like you,
    who pardons sin^(B) and forgives^(C) the transgression
    of the remnant^(D) of his inheritance?^(E)
You do not stay angry^(F) forever
    but delight to show mercy.^(G)

⁵ Will you be angry with us forever?^(A)
    Will you prolong your anger through all generations?

⁵ This is what God the Lord says—
the Creator of the heavens,^(A) who stretches them out,
    who spreads out the earth^(B) with all that springs from it,^(C)
    who gives breath^(D) to its people,
    and life to those who walk on it:

⁹ He will not always accuse,
    nor will he harbor his anger forever;^(A)
10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve^(B)
    or repay us according to our iniquities.
¹¹ For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
    so great is his love^(C) for those who fear him;^(D)
12 as far as the east is from the west,
    so far has he removed our transgressions^(E) from us.

¹³ As a father has compassion^(F) on his children,
    so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;
¹⁴ for he knows how we are formed,^(G)
    he remembers that we are dust.^(H)
15 The life of mortals is like grass,^(I)
    they flourish like a flower^(J) of the field;
¹⁶ the wind blows^(K) over it and it is gone,
    and its place^(L) remembers it no more.

³⁸ Yet he was merciful;^(A)
    he forgave^(B) their iniquities^(C)
    and did not destroy them.
Time after time he restrained his anger^(D)
    and did not stir up his full wrath.
³⁹ He remembered that they were but flesh,^(E)
    a passing breeze^(F) that does not return.