12. If he suddenly should question, who will answer him? Or who can say, "Why did you do so?"
13. God, whose wrath no one is able to resist, and under whom they bend who carry the world,
14. what am I then, that I should answer him and exchange words with him?
15. And if I now have any justice, I will not respond, but will beseech my judge.
16. And if he should listen to me when I call, I would not believe that he had heard my voice.
17. For he will crush me in a whirlwind and multiply my wounds, even without cause.
18. He does not permit my spirit to rest, and he fills me with bitterness.
19. If strength is sought, he is most strong; if equity in judgment, no one would dare to give testimony for me.
20. If I wanted to justify myself, my own mouth will condemn me; if I would reveal my innocence, he would prove me depraved.
21. And if I now became simple, my soul would be ignorant even of this, and my life would weary me.
22. There is one thing that I have said: both the innocent and the impious he consumes.
23. If he scourges, let him kill all at once, and not laugh at the punishment of the innocent.
24. Since the earth has been given into the hand of the impious, he covers the face of its judges; for if it is not him, then who is it?
25. My days have been swifter than a messenger; they have fled and have not seen goodness.
26. They have passed by like ships carrying fruits, just like an eagle flying to food.