³ If you ask, ‘What advantage have I?
    How am I better off than if I had sinned?’^(A)

⁹ For he has said, ‘It profits one nothing
    to take delight in God.’^(A)

¹³ All in vain I have kept my heart clean
    and washed my hands in innocence.^(A)

² What would be my portion from God above
    and my heritage from the Almighty^[a] on high?

¹⁵ What is the Almighty,^[a] that we should serve him?
    And what profit do we get if we pray to him?’^(A)

¹⁵ If I am wicked, woe to me!
    If I am righteous, I cannot lift up my head,
for I am filled with disgrace
    and look upon my affliction.^(A)

³⁰ If I wash myself with soap
    and cleanse my hands with lye,^(A)
31 yet you will plunge me into filth,
    and my own clothes will abhor me.

²¹ I am blameless; I do not know myself;
    I loathe my life.^(A)
22 It is all one; therefore I say,
    ‘He destroys both the blameless and the wicked.’^(B)