Job 40
1 Moreover the LORD answered Job, and said:
God continued speaking to Job.
2 Shall he that reproveth contend with the Almighty? He that argueth with God, let him answer it.
“Are you still going to fight with the Almighty and try to set him straight? Anyone who argues with God must give some answers.”
3 Then Job answered the LORD, and said:
Job answered the Lord,
4 Behold, I am of small account; what shall I answer Thee? I lay my hand upon my mouth.
“Me—I am nothing at all. I have no answers. I put my hand in front of my mouth.
5 Once have I spoken, but I will not answer again; yea, twice, but I will proceed no further.
I have already said far too much and I won't say anything more.”
6 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said:
Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind,
7 Gird up thy loins now like a man; I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto Me.
“Prepare yourself, be strong, for I am going to question you, and you must answer me.
8 Wilt thou even make void My judgment? Wilt thou condemn Me, that thou mayest be justified?
Are you really going to say my decisions are wrong? Are you going to condemn me so you can be right?
9 Or hast thou an arm like God? And canst thou thunder with a voice like Him?
Are you as powerful as I am? Does your voice thunder like mine?
10 Deck thyself now with majesty and excellency, and array thyself with glory and beauty.
Why don't you dress yourself with majesty and dignity, and clothe yourself with glory and splendor!
11 Cast abroad the rage of thy wrath; and look upon every one that is proud, and abase him.
Let loose your fierce anger. Humble the proud with a glance.
12 Look on every one that is proud, and bring him low; and tread down the wicked in their place.
Bring down the proud with your gaze; tread the wicked underfoot right where they are.
13 Hide them in the dust together; bind their faces in the hidden place.
Bury them in the dust; lock them away in the grave.
14 Then will I also confess unto thee that thine own right hand can save thee.
Then I will also agree that your own strength can save you.
15 Behold now behemoth, which I made with thee; he eateth grass as an ox.
Consider Behemoth, a creature I made just like I made you. It eats grass like cattle.
16 Lo now, his strength is in his loins, and his force is in the stays of his body.
Look at its powerful loins, the muscles of its belly.
17 He straineth his tail like a cedar; the sinews of his thighs are knit together.
It bends its tail like a cedar; its thigh sinews are strong.
18 His bones are as pipes of brass; his gristles are like bars of iron.
Its bones are like bronze tubes; its limbs like iron rods.
19 He is the beginning of the ways of God; He only that made him can make His sword to approach unto him.
It is the most important example of what God can do; only the one who made it can approach it with a sword.
20 Surely the mountains bring him forth food, and all the beasts of the field play there.
The hills produce food for it, and all the wild animals play there.
21 He lieth under the lotus-trees, in the covert of the reed, and fens.
It lies under the lotus; it hides in the reeds of the marsh.
22 The lotus-trees cover him with their shadow; the willows of the brook compass him about.
The lotus covers it with shade; the willow trees of the valley surround it.
23 Behold, if a river overflow, he trembleth not; he is confident, though the Jordan rush forth to his mouth.
Even if the river is in flood, it is not concerned; it remains calm when the Jordan river surges against it.
24 Shall any take him by his eyes, or pierce through his nose with a snare?
No one can catch it while it is watching, or pierce its nose with a noose.
