² “Indeed, I know that this is true.
    But how can mere mortals prove their innocence before God?^(A)
3 Though they wished to dispute with him,^(B)
    they could not answer him one time out of a thousand.^(C)
4 His wisdom^(D) is profound, his power is vast.^(E)
    Who has resisted^(F) him and come out unscathed?^(G)
5 He moves mountains^(H) without their knowing it
    and overturns them in his anger.^(I)
6 He shakes the earth^(J) from its place
    and makes its pillars tremble.^(K)
7 He speaks to the sun and it does not shine;^(L)
    he seals off the light of the stars.^(M)
8 He alone stretches out the heavens^(N)
    and treads on the waves of the sea.^(O)
9 He is the Maker^(P) of the Bear^[a] and Orion,
    the Pleiades and the constellations of the south.^(Q)
10 He performs wonders^(R) that cannot be fathomed,
    miracles that cannot be counted.^(S)
11 When he passes me, I cannot see him;
    when he goes by, I cannot perceive him.^(T)
12 If he snatches away, who can stop him?^(U)
    Who can say to him, ‘What are you doing?’^(V)
13 God does not restrain his anger;^(W)
    even the cohorts of Rahab^(X) cowered at his feet.

¹⁴ “How then can I dispute with him?
    How can I find words to argue with him?^(Y)
15 Though I were innocent, I could not answer him;^(Z)
    I could only plead^(AA) with my Judge^(AB) for mercy.^(AC)
16 Even if I summoned him and he responded,
    I do not believe he would give me a hearing.^(AD)
17 He would crush me^(AE) with a storm^(AF)
    and multiply^(AG) my wounds for no reason.^(AH)
18 He would not let me catch my breath
    but would overwhelm me with misery.^(AI)
19 If it is a matter of strength, he is mighty!^(AJ)
    And if it is a matter of justice, who can challenge him^[b]?^(AK)
20 Even if I were innocent, my mouth would condemn me;
    if I were blameless, it would pronounce me guilty.^(AL)

²¹ “Although I am blameless,^(AM)
    I have no concern for myself;^(AN)
    I despise my own life.^(AO)
22 It is all the same; that is why I say,
    ‘He destroys both the blameless and the wicked.’^(AP)
23 When a scourge^(AQ) brings sudden death,
    he mocks the despair of the innocent.^(AR)
24 When a land falls into the hands of the wicked,^(AS)
    he blindfolds its judges.^(AT)
    If it is not he, then who is it?^(AU)

²⁵ “My days are swifter than a runner;^(AV)
    they fly away without a glimpse of joy.^(AW)
26 They skim past^(AX) like boats of papyrus,^(AY)
    like eagles swooping down on their prey.^(AZ)
27 If I say, ‘I will forget my complaint,^(BA)
    I will change my expression, and smile,’
²⁸ I still dread^(BB) all my sufferings,
    for I know you will not hold me innocent.^(BC)
29 Since I am already found guilty,
    why should I struggle in vain?^(BD)
30 Even if I washed myself with soap^(BE)
    and my hands^(BF) with cleansing powder,^(BG)
31 you would plunge me into a slime pit^(BH)
    so that even my clothes would detest me.^(BI)

³² “He is not a mere mortal^(BJ) like me that I might answer him,^(BK)
    that we might confront each other in court.^(BL)
33 If only there were someone to mediate between us,^(BM)
    someone to bring us together,^(BN)
34 someone to remove God’s rod from me,^(BO)
    so that his terror would frighten me no more.^(BP)
35 Then I would speak up without fear of him,^(BQ)
    but as it now stands with me, I cannot.^(BR)

10 “I loathe my very life;^(BS)
    therefore I will give free rein to my complaint
    and speak out in the bitterness of my soul.^(BT)
2 I say to God:^(BU) Do not declare me guilty,
    but tell me what charges^(BV) you have against me.^(BW)
3 Does it please you to oppress me,^(BX)
    to spurn the work of your hands,^(BY)
    while you smile on the plans of the wicked?^(BZ)
4 Do you have eyes of flesh?
    Do you see as a mortal sees?^(CA)
5 Are your days like those of a mortal
    or your years like those of a strong man,^(CB)
6 that you must search out my faults
    and probe after my sin^(CC)—
⁷ though you know that I am not guilty^(CD)
    and that no one can rescue me from your hand?^(CE)

⁸ “Your hands shaped^(CF) me and made me.
    Will you now turn and destroy me?^(CG)
9 Remember that you molded me like clay.^(CH)
    Will you now turn me to dust again?^(CI)
10 Did you not pour me out like milk
    and curdle me like cheese,
¹¹ clothe me with skin and flesh
    and knit me together^(CJ) with bones and sinews?
¹² You gave me life^(CK) and showed me kindness,^(CL)
    and in your providence^(CM) watched over^(CN) my spirit.

¹³ “But this is what you concealed in your heart,
    and I know that this was in your mind:^(CO)
14 If I sinned, you would be watching me^(CP)
    and would not let my offense go unpunished.^(CQ)
15 If I am guilty^(CR)—woe to me!^(CS)
    Even if I am innocent, I cannot lift my head,^(CT)
for I am full of shame
    and drowned in^[c] my affliction.^(CU)
16 If I hold my head high, you stalk me like a lion^(CV)
    and again display your awesome power against me.^(CW)
17 You bring new witnesses against me^(CX)
    and increase your anger toward me;^(CY)
    your forces come against me wave upon wave.^(CZ)

¹⁸ “Why then did you bring me out of the womb?^(DA)
    I wish I had died before any eye saw me.^(DB)
19 If only I had never come into being,
    or had been carried straight from the womb to the grave!^(DC)
20 Are not my few days^(DD) almost over?^(DE)
    Turn away from me^(DF) so I can have a moment’s joy^(DG)
21 before I go to the place of no return,^(DH)
    to the land of gloom and utter darkness,^(DI)
22 to the land of deepest night,
    of utter darkness^(DJ) and disorder,
    where even the light is like darkness.”^(DK)

¹⁴ Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne;^(A)
    love and faithfulness go before you.^(B)
15 Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you,
    who walk^(C) in the light^(D) of your presence, Lord.
¹⁶ They rejoice in your name^(E) all day long;
    they celebrate your righteousness.
¹⁷ For you are their glory and strength,^(F)
    and by your favor you exalt our horn.^[a](G)
18 Indeed, our shield^[b](H) belongs to the Lord,
    our king^(I) to the Holy One of Israel.

¹⁹ Once you spoke in a vision,
    to your faithful people you said:
“I have bestowed strength on a warrior;
    I have raised up a young man from among the people.
²⁰ I have found David^(J) my servant;^(K)
    with my sacred oil^(L) I have anointed^(M) him.

³ A person’s own folly^(A) leads to their ruin,
    yet their heart rages against the Lord.^(B)

⁴ Wealth attracts many friends,
    but even the closest friend of the poor person deserts them.^(C)