¹⁷ ‘Can a mortal be more righteous than God?^(A)
    Can even a strong man be more pure than his Maker?^(B)
18 If God places no trust in his servants,^(C)
    if he charges his angels with error,^(D)
19 how much more those who live in houses of clay,^(E)
    whose foundations^(F) are in the dust,^(G)
    who are crushed^(H) more readily than a moth!^(I)

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

¹⁴ “What are mortals, that they could be pure,
    or those born of woman,^(A) that they could be righteous?^(B)
15 If God places no trust in his holy ones,^(C)
    if even the heavens are not pure in his eyes,^(D)
16 how much less mortals, who are vile and corrupt,^(E)
    who drink up evil^(F) like water!^(G)

³ If you, Lord, kept a record of sins,
    Lord, who could stand?^(A)