< Job 40 >

1 Moreover the LORD answered Job, and said:
And the Lord went on, and said to Job:
2 Shall he that reproveth contend with the Almighty? He that argueth with God, let him answer it.
Shall he that contendeth with God be so easily silenced? surely he that reproveth God, ought to answer him.
3 Then Job answered the LORD, and said:
Then Job answered the Lord, and said:
4 Behold, I am of small account; what shall I answer Thee? I lay my hand upon my mouth.
What can I answer, who hath spoken inconsiderately? I will lay my hand upon my mouth.
5 Once have I spoken, but I will not answer again; yea, twice, but I will proceed no further.
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:
And the Lord answering Job out of the whirlwind, said:
7 Gird up thy loins now like a man; I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto Me.
Gird up thy loins like a man: I will ask thee, and do thou tell me.
8 Wilt thou even make void My judgment? Wilt thou condemn Me, that thou mayest be justified?
Wilt thou make void my judgment: and condemn me, that thou mayst be justified?
9 Or hast thou an arm like God? And canst thou thunder with a voice like Him?
And hast thou an arm like God, and canst thou thunder with a voice like him?
10 Deck thyself now with majesty and excellency, and array thyself with glory and beauty.
Clothe thyself with beauty, and set thyself up on high and be glorious, and put on goodly garments.
11 Cast abroad the rage of thy wrath; and look upon every one that is proud, and abase him.
Scatter the proud in thy indignation, and behold every arrogant man, and humble him.
12 Look on every one that is proud, and bring him low; and tread down the wicked in their place.
Look on all that are proud, and confound them, and crush the wicked in their place.
13 Hide them in the dust together; bind their faces in the hidden place.
Hide them in the dust together, and plunge their faces into the pit.
14 Then will I also confess unto thee that thine own right hand can save thee.
Then I will confess that thy right hand is able to save thee.
15 Behold now behemoth, which I made with thee; he eateth grass as an ox.
Behold behemoth whom I made with thee, he eateth grass like an ox.
16 Lo now, his strength is in his loins, and his force is in the stays of his body.
His strength is in his loins, and his force in the navel of his belly.
17 He straineth his tail like a cedar; the sinews of his thighs are knit together.
He setteth up his tail like a cedar, the sinews of his testicles are wrapped together.
18 His bones are as pipes of brass; his gristles are like bars of iron.
His bones are like pipes of brass, his gristle like plates of iron.
19 He is the beginning of the ways of God; He only that made him can make His sword to approach unto him.
He is the beginning of the ways of God, who made him, he will apply his sword.
20 Surely the mountains bring him forth food, and all the beasts of the field play there.
To him the mountains bring forth grass: there all the beasts of the field shall play.
21 He lieth under the lotus-trees, in the covert of the reed, and fens.
He sleepeth under the shadow, in the covert of the reed, and in moist places.
22 The lotus-trees cover him with their shadow; the willows of the brook compass him about.
The shades cover his shadow, the willows of the brook shall compass him about.
23 Behold, if a river overflow, he trembleth not; he is confident, though the Jordan rush forth to his mouth.
Behold, he will drink up a river, and not wonder: and he trusteth that the Jordan may run into his mouth.
24 Shall any take him by his eyes, or pierce through his nose with a snare?
In his eyes as with a hook he shall take him, and bore through his nostrils with stakes.

< Job 40 >