¹⁸ Your covenant with death will be annulled;
    your agreement with the realm of the dead will not stand.^(A)
When the overwhelming scourge sweeps by,^(B)
    you will be beaten down^(C) by it.
¹⁹ As often as it comes it will carry you away;^(D)
    morning after morning,^(E) by day and by night,
    it will sweep through.”

The understanding of this message
    will bring sheer terror.^(F)
20 The bed is too short to stretch out on,
    the blanket too narrow to wrap around you.^(G)