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)

³ “Give me, O God, the pledge you demand.^(F)
    Who else will put up security^(G) for me?^(H)
4 You have closed their minds to understanding;^(I)
    therefore you will not let them triumph.
⁵ If anyone denounces their friends for reward,^(J)
    the eyes of their children will fail.^(K)

⁶ “God has made me a byword^(L) to everyone,^(M)
    a man in whose face people spit.^(N)
7 My eyes have grown dim with grief;^(O)
    my whole frame is but a shadow.^(P)
8 The upright are appalled at this;
    the innocent are aroused^(Q) against the ungodly.
⁹ Nevertheless, the righteous^(R) will hold to their ways,
    and those with clean hands^(S) will grow stronger.^(T)

¹⁰ “But come on, all of you, try again!
    I will not find a wise man among you.^(U)
11 My days have passed,^(V) my plans are shattered.
    Yet the desires of my heart^(W)
12 turn night into day;^(X)
    in the face of the darkness light is near.^(Y)
13 If the only home I hope for is the grave,^(Z)
    if I spread out my bed^(AA) in the realm of darkness,^(AB)
14 if I say to corruption,^(AC) ‘You are my father,’
    and to the worm,^(AD) ‘My mother’ or ‘My sister,’
¹⁵ where then is my hope—^(AE)
    who can see any hope for me?^(AF)
16 Will it go down to the gates of death?^(AG)
    Will we descend together into the dust?”^(AH)