Look, the nations are like a drop in a bucket; they are regarded as dust on the scales. He lifts ¹  the coastlands ²  as if they were dust.

“Agreed!” said Laban, “It will be as you say.” ¹ 

“Yes, I know what you are thinking, ¹  the schemes ²  by which you would wrong me. ³ 

Look, the sovereign Lord helps me. Who dares to condemn me? Look, all of them will wear out like clothes; a moth will eat away at them.

If ¹  God ²  puts no trust in ³  his servants ⁴  and attributes ⁵  folly ⁶  to his angels,

Indeed, this is the joy of his way, ¹  and out of the earth ²  others spring up. ³ 

If he holds back the waters, then they dry up; ¹  if he releases them, ²  they destroy ³  the land.

“Indeed, my eyes have seen all this, ²  my ears have heard and understood it.

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

“If ¹  I cry out, ²  ‘Violence!’ ³  I receive no answer; ⁴  I cry for help, but there is no justice.

But their prosperity is not their own doing. ¹  The counsel of the wicked is far from me! ² 

“If I go to the east, he is not there, and to the west, yet I do not perceive him.

If you yourselves have all seen this, Why in the world ¹  do you continue this meaningless talk? ² 

Look, I am just like you in relation to God; I too have been molded ¹  from clay.

¹ Yet God ²  finds occasions ³  with me; he regards me as his enemy!

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

Indeed, God is exalted in his power; who is a teacher ¹  like him?

See how he scattered ¹  his lightning ²  about him; he has covered the depths ³  of the sea.

“Indeed, I am completely unworthy ¹  – how could I reply to you? I put ²  my hand over my mouth to silence myself. ³ 

(41:1) ¹  See, his expectation is wrong, ²  he is laid low even at the sight of it. ³