< Job 40 >

1 Moreover the LORD answered Job, and said,
And the Lord continued, and he said to Job:
2 Shall he that contends with the Almighty instruct him? he that reproves God, let him answer it.
Will he who contends with God be so easily silenced? Certainly, he who argues with God must also respond to him.
3 Then Job answered the LORD, and said,
Then Job answered the Lord, saying:
4 Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer you? I will lay my hand on my mouth.
What could I possibly answer, since I have been speaking thoughtlessly? I will place my hand over my mouth.
5 Once have I spoken; but I will not answer: yes, 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 answered the LORD to Job out of the whirlwind, and said,
But the Lord, answering Job out of the whirlwind, said:
7 Gird up your loins now like a man: I will demand of you, and declare you to me.
Gird your waist like a man. I will question you, and you must answer me.
8 Will you also cancel my judgment? will you condemn me, that you may be righteous?
Will you make my judgment null and void; and will you condemn me so that you may be justified?
9 Have you an arm like God? or can you thunder with a voice like him?
And do you have an arm like God, or a voice like thunder?
10 Deck yourself now with majesty and excellency; and array yourself with glory and beauty.
Envelop yourself with splendor, and raise yourself up on high, and be glorious, and put on splendid garments.
11 Cast abroad the rage of your wrath: and behold every one that is proud, and abase him.
Scatter the arrogant with your wrath, and, when you see all the arrogant, humble them.
12 Look on every one that is proud, and bring him low; and tread down the wicked in their place.
Look down upon each of the arrogant and confound them, and crush the impious in their place.
13 Hide them in the dust together; and bind their faces in secret.
Hide them in the dust together and plunge their faces into the pit.
14 Then will I also confess to you that your own right hand can save you.
Then I will confess that your right hand is able to save you.
15 Behold now behemoth, which I made with you; he eats grass as an ox.
Behold, the behemoth, whom I created along with you, eats hay like an ox.
16 See now, his strength is in his loins, and his force is in the navel of his belly.
His strength is in his lower back, and his power is in the center of his abdomen.
17 He moves his tail like a cedar: the sinews of his stones are wrapped together.
He draws up his tail like a cedar; the sinews of his thighs have been drawn together.
18 His bones are as strong pieces of brass; his bones are like bars of iron.
His bones are like pipes of brass; his cartilage is like plates of iron.
19 He is the chief of the ways of God: he that made him can make his sword to approach to him.
He is the beginning of the ways of God, who made him; he will use him as his sword.
20 Surely the mountains bring him forth food, where all the beasts of the field play.
The mountains bring forth grass for him; all the beasts of the field will play there.
21 He lies under the shady trees, in the covert of the reed, and fens.
He sleeps in the shadows, under the cover of branches, and in moist places.
22 The shady trees cover him with their shadow; the willows of the brook compass him about.
The shadows cover his shadow; the willows of the brook will encircle him.
23 Behold, he drinks up a river, and hastens not: he trusts that he can draw up Jordan into his mouth.
Behold, he will drink a river and not be amazed, and he has confidence that the Jordan could flow into his mouth.
24 He takes it with his eyes: his nose pierces through snares.
He will seize him through his eyes, as if with a hook, and he will bore through his nostrils, as if with stakes.

< Job 40 >