Would it turn out well if he would examine ¹  you? Or as one deceives ²  a man would you deceive him?

If God places no trust in his holy ones, ¹  if even the heavens ²  are not pure in his eyes,

“But ¹  if I speak, my pain is not relieved, ²  and if I refrain from speaking – how ³  much of it goes away?

I summon ¹  my servant, but he does not respond, even though I implore ²  him with my own mouth.

“Why are times not appointed by ¹  the Almighty? ²  Why do those who know him not see his days?

It is not the aged ¹  who are wise, nor old men who understand what is right.

For his eyes are on the ways of an individual, he observes all a person’s ¹  steps.

For he does not still consider a person, ¹  that he should come before God in judgment.

But you say, ‘What will it profit you,’ ¹  and, ‘What do I gain by not sinning?’ ² 

Surely it is an empty cry ¹  – God does not hear it; the Almighty does not take notice of it.

Indeed, God is mighty; and he does not despise people, ¹  he ²  is mighty, and firm ³  in his intent. ⁴ 

Certainly ¹  you do not want a sacrifice, or else I would offer it; ²  you do not desire a burnt sacrifice. ³ 

For the Lord listens to the needy; he does not despise his captive people. ¹ 

Then they say, “The Lord does not see this; the God of Jacob does not take notice of it.” ¹ 

He does not deal with us as our sins deserve; ¹  he does not repay us as our misdeeds deserve. ² 

Lest ¹  she should make level the path leading to life, ²  her paths are unstable ³  but she does not know it. ⁴ 

For the ways of a person ¹  are in front of the Lord’s eyes, and the Lord ²  weighs ³  all that person’s ⁴  paths.

Like cloudy skies and wind that produce no rain, ¹  so is the one who boasts ²  of a gift not given. ³ 

Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, so honor ¹  is not fitting for a fool. ² 

Answer a fool according to his folly, ¹  lest he be wise in his own estimation. ²