⁶ Should not your piety be your confidence^(A)
    and your blameless^(B) ways your hope?

⁷ “Consider now: Who, being innocent, has ever perished?^(C)
    Where were the upright ever destroyed?^(D)
8 As I have observed,^(E) those who plow evil^(F)
    and those who sow trouble reap it.^(G)
9 At the breath of God^(H) they perish;
    at the blast of his anger they are no more.^(I)
10 The lions may roar^(J) and growl,
    yet the teeth of the great lions^(K) are broken.^(L)

⁸ “But if I were you, I would appeal to God;
    I would lay my cause before him.^(A)
9 He performs wonders^(B) that cannot be fathomed,^(C)
    miracles that cannot be counted.^(D)
10 He provides rain for the earth;^(E)
    he sends water on the countryside.^(F)
11 The lowly he sets on high,^(G)
    and those who mourn^(H) are lifted^(I) to safety.
¹² He thwarts the plans^(J) of the crafty,
    so that their hands achieve no success.^(K)
13 He catches the wise^(L) in their craftiness,^(M)
    and the schemes of the wily are swept away.^(N)
14 Darkness^(O) comes upon them in the daytime;
    at noon they grope as in the night.^(P)
15 He saves the needy^(Q) from the sword in their mouth;
    he saves them from the clutches of the powerful.^(R)
16 So the poor^(S) have hope,
    and injustice shuts its mouth.^(T)

¹⁷ “Blessed is the one whom God corrects;^(U)
    so do not despise the discipline^(V) of the Almighty.^[a](W)
18 For he wounds, but he also binds up;^(X)
    he injures, but his hands also heal.^(Y)
19 From six calamities he will rescue^(Z) you;
    in seven no harm will touch you.^(AA)
20 In famine^(AB) he will deliver you from death,
    and in battle from the stroke of the sword.^(AC)

² “How long will you say such things?^(B)
    Your words are a blustering wind.^(C)
3 Does God pervert justice?^(D)
    Does the Almighty pervert what is right?^(E)
4 When your children sinned against him,
    he gave them over to the penalty of their sin.^(F)
5 But if you will seek God earnestly
    and plead^(G) with the Almighty,^(H)
6 if you are pure and upright,
    even now he will rouse himself on your behalf^(I)
    and restore you to your prosperous state.^(J)
7 Your beginnings will seem humble,
    so prosperous^(K) will your future be.^(L)