Job 40
1 And the LORD said to Job:
And the Lord continued, and he said to Job:
2 “Will the faultfinder contend with the Almighty? Let him who argues with God give an answer.”
Will he who contends with God be so easily silenced? Certainly, he who argues with God must also respond to him.
3 Then Job answered the LORD:
Then Job answered the Lord, saying:
4 “Behold, I am insignificant. How can I reply to You? I place my hand over my mouth.
What could I possibly answer, since I have been speaking thoughtlessly? I will place my hand over my mouth.
5 I have spoken once, but I have no answer— twice, but I have nothing to add.”
One thing I have spoken, which I wish I had not said; and another, to which I will add no more.
6 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said:
But the Lord, answering Job out of the whirlwind, said:
7 “Now brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall inform Me.
Gird your waist like a man. I will question you, and you must answer me.
8 Would you really annul My justice? Would you condemn Me to justify yourself?
Will you make my judgment null and void; and will you condemn me so that you may be justified?
9 Do you have an arm like God’s? Can you thunder with a voice like His?
And do you have an arm like God, or a voice like thunder?
10 Then adorn yourself with majesty and splendor, and clothe yourself with honor and glory.
Envelop yourself with splendor, and raise yourself up on high, and be glorious, and put on splendid garments.
11 Unleash the fury of your wrath; look on every proud man and bring him low.
Scatter the arrogant with your wrath, and, when you see all the arrogant, humble them.
12 Look on every proud man and humble him; trample the wicked where they stand.
Look down upon each of the arrogant and confound them, and crush the impious in their place.
13 Bury them together in the dust; imprison them in the grave.
Hide them in the dust together and plunge their faces into the pit.
14 Then I will confess to you that your own right hand can save you.
Then I will confess that your right hand is able to save you.
15 Look at Behemoth, which I made along with you. He feeds on grass like an ox.
Behold, the behemoth, whom I created along with you, eats hay like an ox.
16 See the strength of his loins and the power in the muscles of his belly.
His strength is in his lower back, and his power is in the center of his abdomen.
17 His tail sways like a cedar; the sinews of his thighs are tightly knit.
He draws up his tail like a cedar; the sinews of his thighs have been drawn together.
18 His bones are tubes of bronze; his limbs are rods of iron.
His bones are like pipes of brass; his cartilage is like plates of iron.
19 He is the foremost of God’s works; only his Maker can draw the sword against him.
He is the beginning of the ways of God, who made him; he will use him as his sword.
20 The hills yield him their produce, while all the beasts of the field play nearby.
The mountains bring forth grass for him; all the beasts of the field will play there.
21 He lies under the lotus plants, hidden among the reeds of the marsh.
He sleeps in the shadows, under the cover of branches, and in moist places.
22 The lotus plants conceal him in their shade; the willows of the brook surround him.
The shadows cover his shadow; the willows of the brook will encircle him.
23 Though the river rages, Behemoth is unafraid; he remains secure, though the Jordan surges to his mouth.
Behold, he will drink a river and not be amazed, and he has confidence that the Jordan could flow into his mouth.
24 Can anyone capture him as he looks on, or pierce his nose with a snare?
He will seize him through his eyes, as if with a hook, and he will bore through his nostrils, as if with stakes.
