< Job 40 >

1 And the Lord continued, and he said to Job:
Moreover the LORD answered Job, and said,
2 Will he who contends with God be so easily silenced? Certainly, he who argues with God must also respond to him.
Shall he that contends with the Almighty instruct him? he that reproves God, let him answer it.
3 Then Job answered the Lord, saying:
Then Job answered the LORD, and said,
4 What could I possibly answer, since I have been speaking thoughtlessly? I will place my hand over my mouth.
Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer you? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth.
5 One thing I have spoken, which I wish I had not said; and another, to which I will add no more.
Once have I spoken; but I will not answer: yea, twice; but I will proceed no further.
6 But the Lord, answering Job out of the whirlwind, said:
Then answered the LORD unto Job out of the whirlwind, and said,
7 Gird your waist like a man. I will question you, and you must answer me.
Gird up your loins now like a man: I will demand of you, and declare you unto me.
8 Will you make my judgment null and void; and will you condemn me so that you may be justified?
Will you also nullify my judgment? will you condemn me, that you may be righteous?
9 And do you have an arm like God, or a voice like thunder?
Have you an arm like God? or can you thunder with a voice like him?
10 Envelop yourself with splendor, and raise yourself up on high, and be glorious, and put on splendid garments.
Deck yourself now with majesty and excellency; and array yourself with glory and beauty.
11 Scatter the arrogant with your wrath, and, when you see all the arrogant, humble them.
Cast abroad the rage of your wrath: and behold every one that is proud, and bring low him.
12 Look down upon each of the arrogant and confound them, and crush the impious in their place.
Look on every one that is proud, and bring him low; and tread down the wicked in their place.
13 Hide them in the dust together and plunge their faces into the pit.
Hide them in the dust together; and bind their faces in secret.
14 Then I will confess that your right hand is able to save you.
Then will I also confess unto you that your own right hand can save you.
15 Behold, the behemoth, whom I created along with you, eats hay like an ox.
Behold now behemoth, which I made with you; he eats grass as an ox.
16 His strength is in his lower back, and his power is in the center of his abdomen.
Lo now, his strength is in his loins, and his force is in the navel of his belly.
17 He draws up his tail like a cedar; the sinews of his thighs have been drawn together.
He moves his tail like a cedar: the sinews of his stones are wrapped together.
18 His bones are like pipes of brass; his cartilage is like plates of iron.
His bones are as strong pieces of brass; his bones are like bars of iron.
19 He is the beginning of the ways of God, who made him; he will use him as his sword.
He is the chief of the ways of God: he that made him can make his sword to approach unto him.
20 The mountains bring forth grass for him; all the beasts of the field will play there.
Surely the mountains bring him forth food, where all the beasts of the field play.
21 He sleeps in the shadows, under the cover of branches, and in moist places.
He lies under the shady trees, in the covert of the reed, and fens.
22 The shadows cover his shadow; the willows of the brook will encircle him.
The shady trees cover him with their shadow; the willows of the brook compass him about.
23 Behold, he will drink a river and not be amazed, and he has confidence that the Jordan could flow into his mouth.
Behold, he drinks up a river, and hastes not: he trusts that he can draw up Jordan into his mouth.
24 He will seize him through his eyes, as if with a hook, and he will bore through his nostrils, as if with stakes.
He takes it with his eyes: his nose pierces through snares.

< Job 40 >