²⁰ “Only grant me these two things, God,
    and then I will not hide from you:
²¹ Withdraw your hand^(A) far from me,
    and stop frightening me with your terrors.^(B)
22 Then summon me and I will answer,^(C)
    or let me speak, and you reply to me.^(D)
23 How many wrongs and sins have I committed?^(E)
    Show me my offense and my sin.^(F)
24 Why do you hide your face^(G)
    and consider me your enemy?^(H)
25 Will you torment^(I) a windblown leaf?^(J)
    Will you chase^(K) after dry chaff?^(L)
26 For you write down bitter things against me
    and make me reap the sins of my youth.^(M)
27 You fasten my feet in shackles;^(N)
    you keep close watch on all my paths^(O)
    by putting marks on the soles of my feet.

⁶ then know that God has wronged me^(A)
    and drawn his net^(B) around me.^(C)

⁷ “Though I cry, ‘Violence!’ I get no response;^(D)
    though I call for help,^(E) there is no justice.^(F)
8 He has blocked my way so I cannot pass;^(G)
    he has shrouded my paths in darkness.^(H)
9 He has stripped^(I) me of my honor^(J)
    and removed the crown from my head.^(K)
10 He tears me down^(L) on every side till I am gone;
    he uproots my hope^(M) like a tree.^(N)
11 His anger^(O) burns against me;
    he counts me among his enemies.^(P)
12 His troops advance in force;^(Q)
    they build a siege ramp^(R) against me
    and encamp around my tent.^(S)

² “Even today my complaint^(A) is bitter;^(B)
    his hand^[a] is heavy in spite of^[b] my groaning.^(C)
3 If only I knew where to find him;
    if only I could go to his dwelling!^(D)
4 I would state my case^(E) before him
    and fill my mouth with arguments.^(F)
5 I would find out what he would answer me,^(G)
    and consider what he would say to me.
⁶ Would he vigorously oppose me?^(H)
    No, he would not press charges against me.^(I)
7 There the upright^(J) can establish their innocence before him,^(K)
    and there I would be delivered forever from my judge.^(L)

⁸ “But if I go to the east, he is not there;
    if I go to the west, I do not find him.
⁹ When he is at work in the north, I do not see him;
    when he turns to the south, I catch no glimpse of him.^(M)
10 But he knows the way that I take;^(N)
    when he has tested me,^(O) I will come forth as gold.^(P)
11 My feet have closely followed his steps;^(Q)
    I have kept to his way without turning aside.^(R)
12 I have not departed from the commands of his lips;^(S)
    I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread.^(T)

¹³ “But he stands alone, and who can oppose him?^(U)
    He does whatever he pleases.^(V)
14 He carries out his decree against me,
    and many such plans he still has in store.^(W)
15 That is why I am terrified before him;^(X)
    when I think of all this, I fear him.^(Y)
16 God has made my heart faint;^(Z)
    the Almighty^(AA) has terrified me.^(AB)
17 Yet I am not silenced by the darkness,^(AC)
    by the thick darkness that covers my face.

² “As surely as God lives, who has denied me justice,^(B)
    the Almighty,^(C) who has made my life bitter,^(D)
3 as long as I have life within me,
    the breath of God^(E) in my nostrils,
⁴ my lips will not say anything wicked,
    and my tongue will not utter lies.^(F)
5 I will never admit you are in the right;
    till I die, I will not deny my integrity.^(G)
6 I will maintain my innocence^(H) and never let go of it;
    my conscience^(I) will not reproach me as long as I live.^(J)