Job 40
1 And the LORD said to Job:
And the Lord God answered Job, and said,
2 “Will the faultfinder contend with the Almighty? Let him who argues with God give an answer.”
Will [any one] pervert judgement with the Mighty One? and he that reproves God, let him return it for answer.
3 Then Job answered the LORD:
And Job answered and said to the Lord,
4 “Behold, I am insignificant. How can I reply to You? I place my hand over my mouth.
Why do I yet plead? being rebuked even while reproving the Lord: hearing such things, whereas I am nothing: and what shall I answer to these [arguments]? I will lay my hand upon my mouth.
5 I have spoken once, but I have no answer— twice, but I have nothing to add.”
I have spoken once; but I will not do so a second time.
6 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said:
And the Lord yet again answered and spoke to Job out of the cloud, [saying],
7 “Now brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall inform Me.
Nay, gird up now your loins like a man; and I will ask you, and do you answer me.
8 Would you really annul My justice? Would you condemn Me to justify yourself?
Do not set aside my judgement: and do you think that I have dealt with you in any other way, than that you might appear to be righteous?
9 Do you have an arm like God’s? Can you thunder with a voice like His?
Hast you an arm like the Lord's? or do you thunder with a voice like his?
10 Then adorn yourself with majesty and splendor, and clothe yourself with honor and glory.
Assume now a lofty bearing and power; and clothe yourself with glory and honour.
11 Unleash the fury of your wrath; look on every proud man and bring him low.
And send forth messengers with wrath; and lay low every haughty one.
12 Look on every proud man and humble him; trample the wicked where they stand.
Bring down also the proud man; and consume at once the ungodly.
13 Bury them together in the dust; imprison them in the grave.
And hide them together in the earth; and fill their faces with shame.
14 Then I will confess to you that your own right hand can save you.
[Then] will I confess that your right hand can save [you].
15 Look at Behemoth, which I made along with you. He feeds on grass like an ox.
But now look at the wild beasts with you; they eat grass like oxen.
16 See the strength of his loins and the power in the muscles of his belly.
Behold now, his strength is in his loins, and his force is in the navel of his belly.
17 His tail sways like a cedar; the sinews of his thighs are tightly knit.
He sets up his tail like a cypress; and his nerves are wrapped together.
18 His bones are tubes of bronze; his limbs are rods of iron.
His sides are sides of brass; and his backbone is [as] cast iron.
19 He is the foremost of God’s works; only his Maker can draw the sword against him.
This is the chief of the creation of the Lord; made to be played with by his angels.
20 The hills yield him their produce, while all the beasts of the field play nearby.
And when he has gone up to a steep mountain, he causes joy to the quadrupeds in the deep.
21 He lies under the lotus plants, hidden among the reeds of the marsh.
He lies under trees of every kind, by the papyrus, and reed, and bulrush.
22 The lotus plants conceal him in their shade; the willows of the brook surround him.
And the great trees make a shadow over him with their branches, and [so do] the bushes of the field.
23 Though the river rages, Behemoth is unafraid; he remains secure, though the Jordan surges to his mouth.
If there should be a flood, he will not perceive it; he trust that Jordan will rush up into his mouth.
24 Can anyone capture him as he looks on, or pierce his nose with a snare?
[Yet one] shall take him in his sight; [one] shall catch [him] with a cord, and pierce his nose.
