¹⁶ My face is red with weeping,^(A)
    dark shadows ring my eyes;^(B)
17 yet my hands have been free of violence^(C)
    and my prayer is pure.^(D)

¹⁸ “Earth, do not cover my blood;^(E)
    may my cry^(F) never be laid to rest!^(G)
19 Even now my witness^(H) is in heaven;^(I)
    my advocate is on high.^(J)
20 My intercessor^(K) is my friend^[a](L)
    as my eyes pour out^(M) tears^(N) to God;
²¹ on behalf of a man he pleads^(O) with God
    as one pleads for a friend.

²² “Only a few years will pass
    before I take the path of no return.^(P)

¹³ If the only home I hope for is the grave,^(A)
    if I spread out my bed^(B) in the realm of darkness,^(C)
14 if I say to corruption,^(D) ‘You are my father,’
    and to the worm,^(E) ‘My mother’ or ‘My sister,’
¹⁵ where then is my hope—^(F)
    who can see any hope for me?^(G)
16 Will it go down to the gates of death?^(H)
    Will we descend together into the dust?”^(I)