² “Can a mortal be of use to God?
    Can even the wisest be of service to him?^(A)
3 Is it any pleasure to the Almighty^[a] if you are righteous,
    or is it gain to him if you make your ways blameless?
⁴ Is it for your piety that he reproves you
    and enters into judgment with you?^(B)

²¹ “Agree with God,^[a] and be at peace;
    in this way good will come to you.^(A)
22 Receive instruction from his mouth,
    and lay up his words in your heart.^(B)
23 If you return to the Almighty,^[b] you will be restored,
    if you remove unrighteousness from your tents,^(C)
24 if you treat gold like dust
    and gold of Ophir like the stones of the torrent bed,^(D)
25 and if the Almighty^[c] is your gold
    and your precious silver,^(E)
26 then you will delight yourself in the Almighty^[d]
    and lift up your face to God.^(F)
27 You will pray to him, and he will hear you,
    and you will pay your vows.^(G)
28 You will decide on a matter, and it will be established for you,
    and light will shine on your ways.^(H)
29 When others are humiliated, you say it is pride,
    for he saves the humble.^(I)
30 He will deliver even those who are guilty;
    they will escape because of the cleanness of your hands.”^[e](J)

² “Today also my complaint is bitter;^[f]
    his^[g] hand is heavy despite my groaning.^(K)
3 Oh, that I knew where I might find him,
    that I might come even to his dwelling!^(L)
4 I would lay my case before him
    and fill my mouth with arguments.^(M)
5 I would learn what he would answer me
    and understand what he would say to me.
⁶ Would he contend with me in the greatness of his power?
    No, but he would give heed to me.
⁷ There the upright could reason with him,
    and I should be acquitted forever by my judge.^(N)