< Job 40 >

1 Moreouer ye Lord spake vnto Iob, and said,
And the Lord addressed Job, and said,
2 Is this to learne to striue with the Almightie? he that reprooueth God, let him answere to it.
Will he that contendeth with the Almighty yet find fault? him that reproveth God answer this.
3 Then Iob answered the Lord, saying,
Then answered Job the Lord, and said,
4 Beholde, I am vile: what shall I answere thee? I will lay mine hand vpon my mouth.
Behold, I am too vile: what shall I answer thee? my hand do I place on my mouth.
5 Once haue I spoken, but I will answere no more, yea twise, but I will proceede no further.
Once have I spoken; but I will not answer: yea, twice; but I will not repeat it again.
6 Againe the Lord answered Iob out of the whirle winde, and said,
Then answered the Lord unto Job out of the storm-wind, and said,
7 Girde vp now thy loynes like a man: I will demaunde of thee, and declare thou vnto me.
Do but gird up like a mighty man thy loins: I will ask thee, and do thou inform me.
8 Wilt thou disanul my iudgement? or wilt thou condemne me, that thou mayst be iustified?
Wilt thou indeed annul my decree? wilt thou condemn me, in order that thou mayest appear righteous?
9 Or hast thou an arme like God? or doest thou thunder with a voyce like him?
But if thou hast an arm like God, or if thou canst thunder loudly like him:
10 Decke thy selfe now with maiestie and excellencie, and aray thy selfe with beautie and glory.
Then do deck thyself with excellence and greatness, and clothe thyself in majesty and glory.
11 Cast abroad the indignation of thy wrath, and beholde euery one that is proude, and abase him.
Scatter abroad the ragings of thy wrath, and look on every proud one, and humble him.
12 Looke on euery one that is arrogant, and bring him lowe: and destroy 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, and binde their faces in a secret place.
Hide them in the dust altogether: bind up their faces in concealment.
14 Then will I confesse vnto thee also, that thy right hand can saue thee.
Then will I also myself praise thee, when thy own right hand hath helped thee.
15 Behold now Behemoth (whom I made with thee) which eateth grasse as an oxe.
Only behold Behemoth, which I made near thee: grass he eateth like the ox.
16 Behold now, his strength is in his loynes, and his force is in the nauil of his belly.
Only see, [how great] is his strength in his loins, and his force, in the muscles of his belly.
17 When hee taketh pleasure, his taile is like a cedar: the sinews of his stones are wrapt together.
He stretcheth out his tail like a cedar: the sinews of his loins are closely wrapped together.
18 His bones are like staues of brasse, and his small bones like staues of yron.
His bones are like pipes of brass: his frame is like bars of iron.
19 He is the chiefe of the wayes of God: he that made him, will make his sworde to approch vnto him.
He is the first in rank of the works of God: he that made him can alone bring his sword near unto him.
20 Surely the mountaines bring him foorth grasse, where all the beastes of the fielde play.
But truly the mountains bear for him his food, and all the beasts of the field play there.
21 Lyeth hee vnder the trees in the couert of the reede and fennes?
Under shady trees he lieth down, in the covert of the reeds, and swamp.
22 Can the trees couer him with their shadow? or can the willowes of the riuer compasse him about?
Shady trees cover him as his shadow: willows of the brook encompass him about.
23 Behold, he spoyleth the riuer, and hasteth not: he trusteth that he can draw vp Iorden into 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 Hee taketh it with his eyes, and thrusteth his nose through whatsoeuer meeteth him.
Can one catch him before his eyes? pierce his nose by means of snares?—

< Job 40 >