³ For thou saidst, What advantage will it be unto thee? and, What profit shall I have, if I be cleansed from my sin?

⁹ For he hath said, It profiteth a man nothing that he should delight himself with God.

²¹ Though I were perfect, yet would I not know my soul: I would despise my life.

²² This is one thing, therefore I said it, He destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.

³⁰ If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean;

³¹ Yet shalt thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes shall abhor me.

¹⁵ If I be wicked, woe unto me; and if I be righteous, yet will I not lift up my head. I am full of confusion; therefore see thou mine affliction;

¹⁵ What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?

² For what portion of God is there from above? and what inheritance of the Almighty from on high?

¹³ Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency.

¹⁴ Ye have said, It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the LORD of hosts?