12  Behold, he snatches away; ^swho can turn him back?

^tWho will say to him, ^u‘What are you doing?’

13  “God will not turn back his anger;

beneath him bowed the helpers of ^vRahab.

14  How then can I answer him,

choosing my words with him?

15  Though ^wI am in the right, I cannot answer him;

^xI must appeal for mercy to my accuser.¹

16  If I summoned him and he answered me,

I would not believe that he was listening to my voice.

17  For ^yhe crushes me with a tempest

and multiplies my wounds ^zwithout cause;

18  he will not let me get my breath,

but fills me with ^abitterness.

19  If it is a contest of strength, behold, he is mighty!

If it is a matter of justice, ^bwho can summon him?²