14 “What are mortals, that they could be pure,

or those born of woman, that they could be righteous?

15 If God places no trust in his holy ones,

if even the heavens are not pure in his eyes,

16 how much less mortals, who are vile and corrupt,

who drink up evil like water!

14 What is man, that he can be pure?

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

15 Behold, God puts no trust in his holy ones,

and the heavens are not pure in his sight;

16 how much less one who is abominable and corrupt,

a man who drinks injustice like water!

14 What is man, that he should be clean?

And he which is born of a woman, that he should be righteous?

15 Behold, he putteth no trust in his saints;

Yea, the heavens are not clean in his sight.

16 How much more abominable and filthy

Is man, which drinketh iniquity like water?

14 Can any mortal be pure?

Can anyone born of a woman be just?

15 Look, God does not even trust the angels.

Even the heavens are not absolutely pure in his sight.

16 How much less pure is a corrupt and sinful person

with a thirst for wickedness!

14 “How can anyone be pure?

How can someone born to a woman be good?

15 God places no trust in his holy ones,

and even the heavens are not pure in his eyes.

16 How much less pure is one who is terrible and rotten

and drinks up evil as if it were water!

14 What is man, that he should be clean?

And he that is born of a woman, that he should be righteous?

15 Behold, he putteth no trust in his holy ones;

Yea, the heavens are not clean in his sight:

16 How much less one that is abominable and corrupt,

A man that drinketh iniquity like water!

14 What is man, that he should be pure? and he that is born of a woman, that he should be righteous? 15 Behold, he putteth no trust in his holy ones, and the heavens are not pure in his sight: 16 How much less the abominable and corrupt, —man, that drinketh unrighteousness like water!

14 Why should a mortal be considered faultless 

or someone born of a woman be considered righteous? 

15 If God doesn’t trust his holy ones, 

and the heavens are not pure in his sight, 

16 how much less will he trust the one who is disgusting and corrupt, 

the one who drinks wickedness like water. 

14 What is man, that he should be pure,

or one born of woman, that he should be righteous?

15 If God puts no trust in His holy ones

and the heavens are not pure in His sight,

16 how much less one who is revolting and corrupt,

who drinks injustice like water?

14 What are mortals, that they can be clean?

Or those born of woman, that they can be righteous?

15 God puts no trust even in his holy ones,

and the heavens are not clean in his sight;

16 how much less one who is abominable and corrupt,

one who drinks iniquity like water!

14 “What is a human being, that he can be clean,

or that one born of a woman can be righteous?

15 Look, he does not trust his holy ones,

and the heavens are not clean in his eyes.

16 How much less he who is abominable and corrupt,

a man drinking wickedness like water.

14 “Can human beings really be pure?

Can mere men really be right with God?

15 God doesn’t trust his holy angels.

Even the heavens aren’t pure in his sight.

16 So he’ll certainly find fault with human beings.

After all, they are evil and sinful.

They drink up evil as if it were water.

14 “What is man, that he should be pure,

Or he who is born of a woman, that he should be righteous?

15 “Behold, He puts no trust in His holy ones,

And the heavens are not pure in His sight;

16 How much less one who is detestable and corrupt,

Man, who drinks iniquity like water!