23 If the scourge slays suddenly,
He laughs at the plight of the innocent.

24 The earth is given into the hand of the wicked.
He covers the faces of its judges.
If it is not He, who else could it be?

27 ^aIf I say, ‘I will forget my complaint,
I will put off my sad face and wear a smile,’ ‡

28 ^aI am afraid of all my sufferings;
I know that You ^bwill not hold me innocent. ‡