² “Do you think this to be just?
    Do you say, ^(A)‘It is my right before God,’
³ that you ask, ^(B)‘What advantage have I?
    How am I better off than if I had sinned?’
⁴ I will answer you
    and ^(C)your friends with you.
^5 (D)Look at the heavens, and see;
    and behold the clouds, which are higher than you.
⁶ If you have sinned, ^(E)what do you accomplish against him?
    And if your transgressions are multiplied, what do you do to him?
^7 (F)If you are righteous, what do you give to him?
    Or what does he receive from your hand?
⁸ Your wickedness concerns a man like yourself,
    and your righteousness ^(G)a son of man.

⁹ “Because of the multitude of ^(H)oppressions people ^(I)cry out;
    they call for help because of the arm of ^(J)the mighty.^[a]
10 But none says, ‘Where is God my ^(K)Maker,
    who gives ^(L)songs in the night,
¹¹ who teaches us ^(M)more than the beasts of the earth
    and makes us wiser than the birds of the heavens?’
¹² There they ^(N)cry out, but he does not answer,
    because of the pride of evil men.
¹³ Surely God does not hear an empty cry,
    nor does the Almighty regard it.
¹⁴ How much less when you say that you ^(O)do not see him,
    that the case is before him, and you are ^(P)waiting for him!
¹⁵ And now, because ^(Q)his anger does not punish,
    and he does not take much note of transgression,^[b]
16 Job opens his mouth in empty talk;
    he ^(R)multiplies words ^(S)without knowledge.”