< Job 41 >

1 Canst thou draw out the crocodile with a fishhook? or cause his tongue to sink into the batted rope?
Wilt thou draw out the leviathan with the hook, and press down his tongue with a cord?
2 Canst thou put a reed through his nose? or bore his jaw through with a thorn?
Wilt thou put a rush-rope into his nose, and pierce his jaw with a spike?
3 Will he address many supplications unto thee? or will he speak submissively unto thee?
Will he make many supplications unto thee? or will he speak softly unto thee?
4 Will he make a covenant with thee? that thou couldst take him as a servant for ever?
Will he make a covenant with thee? wilt thou take him as a bondman for ever?
5 Canst thou play with him as with a bird? and tie him up for thy maidens?
Wilt thou play with him as with a bird, and wilt thou bind him for thy maidens?
6 Can companions waylay him? can they divide him among merchants?
Shall partners make traffic of him, will they divide him among merchants?
7 Canst thou fill his skin with barbed irons? and [pierce] with a fish-spear his head?
Wilt thou fill his skin with darts, and his head with fish-spears?
8 Lay thy hand upon him; think of the battle: thou wilt never do it again.
Lay thy hand upon him; remember the battle, — do no more!
9 Behold, his expectation was deceived: even at his mere sight is he cast down.
Lo, hope as to him is belied: is not one cast down even at the sight of him?
10 None is so daring that he would stir him up: and who is there that will stand up before me?
None is so bold as to stir him up; and who is he that will stand before me?
11 Who hath shown me favor, that I should repay him! whatsoever is under the whole heaven is mine.—
Who hath first given to me, that I should repay [him]? [Whatsoever is] under the whole heaven is mine.
12 I will not conceal [the account of] his limbs, nor the relation of his might, nor the grace of his proportion.
I will not be silent as to his parts, the story of his power, and the beauty of his structure.
13 Who hath ever laid open the front of his garment? or who can penetrate into his double row of teeth?
Who can uncover the surface of his garment? who can come within his double jaws?
14 Who hath opened the doors of his face? all round about his teeth abideth terror.
Who can open the doors of his face? Round about his teeth is terror.
15 What pride is there in [his] strong shields; he is locked up as with a close seal.
The rows of his shields are a pride, shut up together [as with] a close seal.
16 One is joined to another; and no breath can come between them.
One is so near to another that no air can come between them;
17 They are fitted closely one to another: they are interlocked, that they cannot be severed.
They are joined each to its fellow; they stick together, and cannot be sundered.
18 From his sneezing there beameth forth a light, and his eyes are like the eyelids of the morning-dawn.
His sneezings flash light, and his eyes are like the eyelids of the morning.
19 Out of his mouth issue burning torches, sparks of fire escape [therefrom].
Out of his mouth go forth flames; sparks of fire leap out:
20 Out of his nostrils cometh forth smoke, as out of a seething pot or caldron.
Out of his nostrils goeth smoke, as out of a boiling pot and cauldron.
21 His breath kindleth coals, and a flame cometh out of his mouth.
His breath kindleth coals, and a flame goeth out of his mouth.
22 In his neck abideth strength, and before him danceth terror joyfully.
In his neck lodgeth strength, and terror danceth before him.
23 The flakes of his flesh are fitted closely together: they are as molten metal on him, immovable.
The flakes of his flesh are joined together: they are fused upon him, they cannot be moved.
24 His heart is firm like a stone: yea, as firm as the nether millstone.
His heart is firm as a stone, yea, firm as the nether [millstone].
25 At his lifting himself up the mighty are terrified: the waves also are lessened.
When he raiseth himself up, the mighty are afraid: they are beside themselves with consternation.
26 If one overtake him with the sword, it cannot hold; nor the spear, the dart, and armor.
If any reach him with a sword, it cannot hold; neither spear, nor dart, nor harpoon.
27 He esteemeth iron as straw, [and] brass as rotten wood.
He esteemeth iron as straw, bronze as rotten wood.
28 The child of the bow cannot make him flee: into stubble are slingstones changed unto him.
The arrow will not make him flee; slingstones are turned with him into stubble.
29 Clubs are esteemed as stubble, and he laugheth at the whirring of the lance.
Clubs are counted as stubble; he laugheth at the shaking of a javelin.
30 Beneath him are sharp-pointed potsherds, he spreadeth out, [as it were, a] threshing-roller upon the mire.
His under parts are sharp potsherds: he spreadeth a threshing-sledge upon the mire.
31 He causeth the deep to boil like a pot: he rendereth the sea like an apothecary's mixture.
He maketh the deep to boil like a pot; he maketh the sea like a pot of ointment;
32 Behind him he causeth his pathway to shine, [so that] men esteem the deep to be hoary.
He maketh the path to shine after him: one would think the deep to be hoary.
33 There is none upon earth that ruleth over him, who is made to be without dread.
Upon earth there is not his like, who is made without fear.
34 He looketh upon all that is high: he is the king over all the ravenous beasts.
He beholdeth all high things; he is king over all the proud beasts.

< Job 41 >