Job 41
1 Canst thou draw out leviathan with a fish-hook? or press down his tongue with a cord?
“Can you draw out Leviathan with a fish hook, or press down his tongue with a cord?
2 Canst thou put a ring into his nose? or bore his jaw through with a hook?
Can you put a rope into his nose, or pierce his jaw through with a hook?
3 Will he make many supplications unto thee? or will he speak soft words unto thee?
Will he make many petitions to you, or will he speak soft words to you?
4 Will he make a covenant with thee, that thou shouldest take him for a servant for ever?
Will he make a covenant with you, that you should take him for a servant forever?
5 Wilt thou play with him as with a bird? Or wilt thou bind him for thy maidens?
Will you play with him as with a bird? Or will you bind him for your girls?
6 Will the bands of fishermen make a banquet of him? Will they part him among the merchants?
Will traders barter for him? Will they part him among the merchants?
7 Canst thou fill his skin with barbed irons? or his head with fish-spears?
Can you fill his skin with barbed irons, or his head with fish spears?
8 Lay thy hand upon him; think upon the battle, thou wilt do so no more.
Lay your hand on him. Remember the battle, and do so no more.
9 Behold, the hope of him is in vain; shall not one be cast down even at the sight of him?
Behold, the hope of him is in vain. Won’t one be cast down even at the sight of him?
10 None is so fierce that dare stir him up; who then is able to stand before Me?
None is so fierce that he dare stir him up. Who then is he who can stand before me?
11 Who hath given Me anything beforehand, that I should repay him? Whatsoever is under the whole heaven is Mine.
Who has first given to me, that I should repay him? Everything under the heavens is mine.
12 Would I keep silence concerning his boastings, or his proud talk, or his fair array of words?
“I will not keep silence concerning his limbs, nor his mighty strength, nor his goodly frame.
13 Who can uncover the face of his garment? Who shall come within his double bridle?
Who can strip off his outer garment? Who will come within his jaws?
14 Who can open the doors of his face? Round about his teeth is terror.
Who can open the doors of his face? Around his teeth is terror.
15 His scales are his pride, shut up together as with a close seal.
Strong scales are his pride, shut up together with a close seal.
16 One is so near to another, that no air can come between them.
One is so near to another, that no air can come between them.
17 They are joined one to another; they stick together, that they cannot be sundered.
They are joined to one another. They stick together, so that they can’t be pulled apart.
18 His sneezings flash forth light, and his eyes are like the eyelids of the morning.
His sneezing flashes out light. His eyes are like the eyelids of the morning.
19 Out of his mouth go burning torches, and sparks of fire leap forth.
Out of his mouth go burning torches. Sparks of fire leap out.
20 Out of his nostrils goeth smoke, as out of a seething pot and burning rushes.
Out of his nostrils a smoke goes, as of a boiling pot over a fire of reeds.
21 His breath kindleth coals, and a flame goeth out of his mouth.
His breath kindles coals. A flame goes out of his mouth.
22 In his neck abideth strength, and dismay danceth before him.
There is strength in his neck. Terror dances before him.
23 The flakes of his flesh are joined together; they are firm upon him; they cannot be moved.
The flakes of his flesh are joined together. They are firm on him. They can’t be moved.
24 His heart is as firm as a stone; yea, firm as the nether millstone.
His heart is as firm as a stone, yes, firm as the lower millstone.
25 When he raiseth himself up, the mighty are afraid; by reason of despair they are beside themselves.
When he raises himself up, the mighty are afraid. They retreat before his thrashing.
26 If one lay at him with the sword, it will not hold; nor the spear, the dart, nor the pointed shaft.
If one attacks him with the sword, it can’t prevail; nor the spear, the dart, nor the pointed shaft.
27 He esteemeth iron as straw, and brass as rotten wood.
He counts iron as straw, and bronze as rotten wood.
28 The arrow cannot make him flee; slingstones are turned with him into stubble.
The arrow can’t make him flee. Sling stones are like chaff to him.
29 Clubs are accounted as stubble; he laugheth at the rattling of the javelin.
Clubs are counted as stubble. He laughs at the rushing of the javelin.
30 Sharpest potsherds are under him; he spreadeth a threshing-sledge upon the mire.
His undersides are like sharp potsherds, leaving a trail in the mud like a threshing sledge.
31 He maketh the deep to boil like a pot; he maketh the sea like a seething mixture.
He makes the deep to boil like a pot. He makes the sea like a pot of ointment.
32 He maketh a path to shine after him; one would think the deep to be hoary.
He makes a path shine after him. One would think the deep had white hair.
33 Upon earth there is not his like, who is made to be fearless.
On earth there is not his equal, that is made without fear.
34 He looketh at all high things; he is king over all the proud beasts.
He sees everything that is high. He is king over all the sons of pride.”
