² “Are all these words to go unanswered?^(B)
    Is this talker to be vindicated?^(C)
3 Will your idle talk^(D) reduce others to silence?
    Will no one rebuke you when you mock?^(E)
4 You say to God, ‘My beliefs are flawless^(F)
    and I am pure^(G) in your sight.’
⁵ Oh, how I wish that God would speak,^(H)
    that he would open his lips against you
⁶ and disclose to you the secrets of wisdom,^(I)
    for true wisdom has two sides.
    Know this: God has even forgotten some of your sin.^(J)

⁷ “Can you fathom^(K) the mysteries of God?
    Can you probe the limits of the Almighty?
⁸ They are higher^(L) than the heavens^(M) above—what can you do?
    They are deeper than the depths below^(N)—what can you know?^(O)
9 Their measure^(P) is longer than the earth
    and wider than the sea.^(Q)

¹⁰ “If he comes along and confines you in prison
    and convenes a court, who can oppose him?^(R)
11 Surely he recognizes deceivers;
    and when he sees evil, does he not take note?^(S)
12 But the witless can no more become wise
    than a wild donkey’s colt^(T) can be born human.^[a](U)

¹³ “Yet if you devote your heart^(V) to him
    and stretch out your hands^(W) to him,^(X)
14 if you put away^(Y) the sin that is in your hand
    and allow no evil^(Z) to dwell in your tent,^(AA)
15 then, free of fault, you will lift up your face;^(AB)
    you will stand firm^(AC) and without fear.^(AD)
16 You will surely forget your trouble,^(AE)
    recalling it only as waters gone by.^(AF)
17 Life will be brighter than noonday,^(AG)
    and darkness will become like morning.^(AH)
18 You will be secure, because there is hope;
    you will look about you and take your rest^(AI) in safety.^(AJ)
19 You will lie down, with no one to make you afraid,^(AK)
    and many will court your favor.^(AL)
20 But the eyes of the wicked will fail,^(AM)
    and escape will elude them;^(AN)
    their hope will become a dying gasp.”^(AO)