< Job 40 >

1 And the LORD said to Job:
Moreover the LORD answered Job,
2 “Will the faultfinder contend with the Almighty? Let him who argues with God give an answer.”
“Shall he who argues contend with the Almighty? He who argues with God, let him answer it.”
3 Then Job answered the LORD:
Then Job answered the LORD,
4 “Behold, I am insignificant. How can I reply to You? I place my hand over my mouth.
“Behold, I am of small account. What will I answer you? I lay my hand on my mouth.
5 I have spoken once, but I have no answer— twice, but I have nothing to add.”
I have spoken once, and I will not answer; Yes, twice, but I will proceed no further.”
6 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said:
Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind:
7 “Now brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall inform Me.
“Now brace yourself like a man. I will question you, and you will answer me.
8 Would you really annul My justice? Would you condemn Me to justify yourself?
Will you even annul my judgment? Will you condemn me, that you may be justified?
9 Do you have an arm like God’s? Can you thunder with a voice like His?
Or do you have an arm like God? Can you thunder with a voice like him?
10 Then adorn yourself with majesty and splendor, and clothe yourself with honor and glory.
“Now deck yourself with excellency and dignity. Array yourself with honor and majesty.
11 Unleash the fury of your wrath; look on every proud man and bring him low.
Pour out the fury of your anger. Look at everyone who is proud, and bring him low.
12 Look on every proud man and humble him; trample the wicked where they stand.
Look at everyone who is proud, and humble him. Crush the wicked in their place.
13 Bury them together in the dust; imprison them in the grave.
Hide them in the dust together. Bind their faces in the hidden place.
14 Then I will confess to you that your own right hand can save you.
Then I will also admit to you that your own right hand can save you.
15 Look at Behemoth, which I made along with you. He feeds on grass like an ox.
“See now behemoth, which I made as well as you. He eats grass as an ox.
16 See the strength of his loins and the power in the muscles of his belly.
Look now, his strength is in his thighs. His force is in the muscles of his belly.
17 His tail sways like a cedar; the sinews of his thighs are tightly knit.
He moves his tail like a cedar. The sinews of his thighs are knit together.
18 His bones are tubes of bronze; his limbs are rods of iron.
His bones are like tubes of bronze. His limbs are like bars of iron.
19 He is the foremost of God’s works; only his Maker can draw the sword against him.
He is the chief of the ways of God. He who made him gives him his sword.
20 The hills yield him their produce, while all the beasts of the field play nearby.
Surely the mountains produce food for him, where all the animals of the field play.
21 He lies under the lotus plants, hidden among the reeds of the marsh.
He lies under the lotus trees, in the covert of the reed, and the marsh.
22 The lotus plants conceal him in their shade; the willows of the brook surround him.
The lotuses cover him with their shade. The willows of the brook surround him.
23 Though the river rages, Behemoth is unafraid; he remains secure, though the Jordan surges to his mouth.
Behold, if a river overflows, he does not tremble. He is confident, though the Jordan swells even to his mouth.
24 Can anyone capture him as he looks on, or pierce his nose with a snare?
Shall any take him when he is on the watch, or pierce through his nose with a snare?

< Job 40 >