< Job 40 >

1 And Jehovah answered Job and said,
And the Lord addressed Job, and said,
2 Shall he that will contend with the Almighty instruct [him]? he that reproveth God, let him answer it.
Will he that contendeth with the Almighty yet find fault? him that reproveth God answer this.
3 And Job answered Jehovah and said,
Then answered Job the Lord, and said,
4 Behold, I am nought: what shall I answer thee? I will lay my hand upon my mouth.
Behold, I am too vile: what shall I answer thee? my hand do I place on my mouth.
5 Once have I spoken, and I will not answer; yea twice, but I will proceed no further.
Once have I spoken; but I will not answer: yea, twice; but I will not repeat it again.
6 And Jehovah answered Job out of the whirlwind and said,
Then answered the Lord unto Job out of the storm-wind, and said,
7 Gird up now thy loins like a man: I will demand of thee, and inform thou me.
Do but gird up like a mighty man thy loins: I will ask thee, and do thou inform me.
8 Wilt thou also annul my judgment? wilt thou condemn me that thou mayest be righteous?
Wilt thou indeed annul my decree? wilt thou condemn me, in order that thou mayest appear righteous?
9 Hast thou an arm like God? or canst thou thunder with a voice like him?
But if thou hast an arm like God, or if thou canst thunder loudly like him:
10 Deck thyself now with glory and excellency, and clothe thyself with majesty and splendour.
Then do deck thyself with excellence and greatness, and clothe thyself in majesty and glory.
11 Cast abroad the ragings of thine anger, and look on every one that is proud, and abase him:
Scatter abroad the ragings of thy wrath, and look on every proud one, and humble him.
12 Look on every one that is proud, bring him low, and tread down the wicked in their place:
Look on every proud one, and bend him low; and tread down the wicked in their place.
13 Hide them in the dust together; bind their faces in secret.
Hide them in the dust altogether: bind up their faces in concealment.
14 Then will I also praise thee, because thy right hand saveth thee.
Then will I also myself praise thee, when thy own right hand hath helped thee.
15 See now the behemoth, which I made with thee: he eateth grass as an ox.
Only behold Behemoth, which I made near thee: grass he eateth like the ox.
16 Behold now, his strength is in his loins, and his force is in the muscles of his belly.
Only see, [how great] is his strength in his loins, and his force, in the muscles of his belly.
17 He bendeth his tail like a cedar; the sinews of his thighs are woven together.
He stretcheth out his tail like a cedar: the sinews of his loins are closely wrapped together.
18 His bones are tubes of bronze, his members are like bars of iron.
His bones are like pipes of brass: his frame is like bars of iron.
19 He is the chief of God's ways: he that made him gave him his sword.
He is the first in rank of the works of God: he that made him can alone bring his sword near unto him.
20 For the mountains bring him forth food, where all the beasts of the field play.
But truly the mountains bear for him his food, and all the beasts of the field play there.
21 He lieth under lotus-bushes, in the covert of the reed and fen:
Under shady trees he lieth down, in the covert of the reeds, and swamp.
22 Lotus-bushes cover him with their shade; the willows of the brook surround him.
Shady trees cover him as his shadow: willows of the brook encompass him about.
23 Lo, the river overfloweth — he startleth not: he is confident though a Jordan break forth against his mouth.
Behold, a river sweepeth violently along, but he hasteneth not away: he remaineth quiet, though a Jordan rusheth up to his mouth.
24 Shall he be taken in front? will they pierce through [his] nose in the trap?
Can one catch him before his eyes? pierce his nose by means of snares?—

< Job 40 >