8 Your wickedness affects a person like yourself,

and your righteousness, a son of man.D

9 People cry out because of severe oppression;

they shout for help because of the power of the mighty.k

10 But no one asks, “Where is God my Maker,l

who provides us with songs in the night,m

11 who gives us more understanding than the animals of the earth

and makes us wiser than the birds of the sky?”n

12 There they cry out, but he does not answer,

because of the pride of evil people.o

13 Indeed, God does not listen to empty cries,

and the Almighty does not take note of it—

14 how much less whenE you complainF

that you do not see him,

that your casea is before him

and you are waitingb for him.