¹⁷ ‘Can a mortal be more righteous than God?^(A)
    Can even a strong man be more pure than his Maker?^(B)

³ Does God pervert justice?^(A)
    Does the Almighty pervert what is right?^(B)

² “Indeed, I know that this is true.
    But how can mere mortals prove their innocence before God?^(A)

⁴ Who can bring what is pure^(A) from the impure?^(B)
    No one!^(C)

¹⁴ “What are mortals, that they could be pure,
    or those born of woman,^(A) that they could be righteous?^(B)

⁴ How then can a mortal be righteous before God?
    How can one born of woman be pure?^(A)

² “Who is this that obscures my plans^(C)
    with words without knowledge?^(D)