17  ⁿ‘Can mortal man be in the right before¹ God?

Can a man be pure before his Maker?

18  Even in his servants ^ohe puts no trust,

and his angels he charges with error;

19  how much more those who dwell in houses of ^pclay,

whose foundation is in ^qthe dust,

who are crushed like^{2 r}the moth.

2  “Truly I know that it is so:

But how can a man be ^zin the right before God?

14  ^eWhat is man, ^fthat he can be pure?

Or he who is ^gborn of a woman, that he can be righteous?

15  Behold, God^{1 h}puts no trust in his ⁱholy ones,

and the heavens are not pure in his sight;

16  ^jhow much less one who is abominable and ^kcorrupt,

a man who ^ldrinks injustice like water!

3  If you, O Lord, should ^fmark iniquities,

O Lord, who could ^gstand?

2  ^eEnter not into judgment with your servant,

for no one living is righteous ^fbefore you.