11 ^aIf He goes by me, I do not see Him;
If He moves past, I do not perceive Him; ‡

12 ^aIf He takes away,¹ who can hinder Him?
Who can say to Him, ‘What are You doing?’ ‡

13 God will not withdraw His anger,
^aThe allies of¹ the proud lie prostrate beneath Him. ‡

14 “How then can I answer Him,
And choose my words to reason with Him?

15 ^aFor though I were righteous, I could not answer Him;
I would beg mercy of my Judge. ‡

16 If I called and He answered me,
I would not believe that He was listening to my voice.

17 For He crushes me with a tempest,
And multiplies my wounds ^awithout cause. ‡

18 He will not allow me to catch my breath,
But fills me with bitterness.

19 If it is a matter of strength, indeed He is strong;
And if of justice, who will appoint my day in court?

20 Though I were righteous, my own mouth would condemn me;
Though I were blameless, it would prove me perverse.

21 “I am blameless, yet I do not know myself;
I despise my life.

22 It is all one thing;
Therefore I say, ^a‘He destroys the blameless and the wicked.’ ‡

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?