²² to the land of deepest night,
    of utter darkness^(A) and disorder,
    where even the light is like darkness.”^(B)

⁸ They are higher^(A) than the heavens^(B) above—what can you do?
    They are deeper than the depths below^(C)—what can you know?^(D)

¹⁷ Have the gates of death^(A) been shown to you?
    Have you seen the gates of the deepest darkness?^(B)

¹¹ Who has a claim against me that I must pay?^(A)
    Everything under heaven belongs to me.^(B)

¹¹ If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me
    and the light become night around me,”
¹² even the darkness will not be dark^(A) to you;
    the night will shine like the day,
    for darkness is as light to you.

¹¹ Death and Destruction^[a] lie open before the Lord^(A)—
    how much more do human hearts!^(B)