<t /><p class="poetry">&#8220;How much less,<n id="1" /> then, can I answer him<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">and choose my words<n id="3" /> to argue<n id="4" /> with<n id="5" /> him!<n id="6" />p>

<p class="poetry">If I summoned him, and he answered me,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">I would not believe<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">that he would be listening to my voice &#8211;p>

<p class="poetry">He does not allow<n id="1" /> me to recover<n id="2" /> my breath,p> <p class="poetry">for he fills<n id="3" /> me with bitterness.p>

<p class="poetry">I dread<n id="1" /> all my sufferings,<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">for<n id="3" /> I know that you do not hold me blameless.<n id="4" />p>

<p class="poetry">For he<n id="1" /> is not a human being like I am,p> <p class="poetry">that<n id="2" /> I might answer him,p> <p class="poetry">that we might come<n id="3" /> together in judgment.p>

<p class="poetry">Then<n id="1" /> would I speak and not fear him,p> <p class="poetry">but it is not so with me.<n id="2" />p>

<p class="poetry">although you know<n id="1" /> that I am not guilty,p> <p class="poetry">and that there is no one who can deliver<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">out of your hand?p>

<p class="poetry">Remember that you have made me as with<n id="1" /> the clay;p> <p class="poetry">will<n id="2" /> you return me to dust?p>

<p class="poetry">&#8220;But these things<n id="1" /> you have concealed in your heart;p> <p class="poetry">I know that this<n id="2" /> is with you:<n id="3" />p>

<p class="poetry">For you<n id="1" /> will forget your trouble;<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">you will remember itp> <p class="poetry">like water that<n id="3" /> has flowed away.p>

<p class="poetry">And you will be secure, because there is hope;p> <p class="poetry">you will be protected<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">and will take your rest in safety.p>

<p class="poetry">&#8220;Without a doubt you are the people,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">and wisdom will die with you.<n id="2" />p>

<p class="poetry">See now,<n id="1" /> I have prepared<n id="2" /> my<n id="3" /> case;<n id="4" />p> <p class="poetry">I know that I am right.<n id="5" />p>

<p class="poetry">Who<n id="1" /> will contend with me?p> <p class="poetry">If anyone can, I will be silent and die.<n id="2" />p>

<p class="poetry">For you write down<n id="1" /> bitter things against mep> <p class="poetry">and cause me to inherit the sins of my youth.<n id="2" />p>

<t /><p class="poetry">&#8220;Surely now you count my steps;<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">then you would not mark<n id="3" /> my sin.<n id="4" />p>

<p class="poetry">Your sin inspires<n id="1" /> your mouth;p> <p class="poetry">you choose the language<n id="2" /> of the crafty.<n id="3" />p>

<p class="poetry">when you turn your rage<n id="1" /> against Godp> <p class="poetry">and allow such words to escape<n id="2" /> from your mouth?p>

<p class="poetry">how much less man, who is abominable and corrupt,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">who drinks in evil like water!<n id="2" />p>

<p class="poetry">for he stretches out his hand against God,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">and vaunts himself<n id="2" /> against the Almighty,p>