¹⁸ “Swift are they on the face of the waters;
    their portion in the land is cursed;
    no treader turns toward their vineyards.^(A)
19 Drought and heat snatch away the snow waters;
    so does Sheol those who have sinned.^(B)
20 The womb forgets them;
    the worm finds them sweet;
they are no longer remembered,
    so wickedness is broken like a tree.^(C)

²¹ “They harm^[a] the childless woman
    and do no good to the widow.^(D)
22 Yet God^[b] prolongs the life of the mighty by his power;
    they rise up when they despair of life.^(E)
23 He gives them security, and they are supported;
    his eyes are upon their ways.^(F)
24 They are exalted a little while and then are gone;
    they wither and fade like the mallow;^[c]
    they are cut off like the heads of grain.^(G)
25 If it is not so, who will prove me a liar
    and show that there is nothing in what I say?”