< Job 41 >

1 Canst thou draw out the crocodile with a fishhook? or cause his tongue to sink into the batted rope?
Canst thou draw out leviathan with a fish hook? or press down his tongue with a cord?
2 Canst thou put a reed through his nose? or bore his jaw through with a thorn?
Canst thou put a rope into his nose? or pierce his jaw through with a hook?
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 soft words 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, that thou shouldest take him for a servant 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? or wilt thou bind him for thy maidens?
6 Can companions waylay him? can they divide him among merchants?
Shall the bands [of fishermen] make traffic of him? shall they part him among the merchants?
7 Canst thou fill his skin with barbed irons? and [pierce] with a fish-spear his head?
Canst thou fill his skin with barbed irons, or his head with fish spears?
8 Lay thy hand upon him; think of the battle: thou wilt never do it again.
Lay thine hand upon him; remember the battle, and do so no more.
9 Behold, his expectation was deceived: even at his mere sight is he cast down.
Behold, the hope of him is in vain: shall not one be 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 fierce that he dare stir him up: who then is he that can 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 unto 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 keep silence concerning his limbs, nor his mighty strength, nor his comely proportion.
13 Who hath ever laid open the front of his garment? or who can penetrate into his double row of teeth?
Who can strip off his outer garment? who shall come within his double bridle?
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.
His strong scales are [his] 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 one to another; they stick together, that they cannot be sundered.
18 From his sneezing there beameth forth a light, and his eyes are like the eyelids of the morning-dawn.
His neesings flash forth 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 burning torches, and sparks of fire leap forth.
20 Out of his nostrils cometh forth smoke, as out of a seething pot or caldron.
Out of his nostrils a smoke goeth, as of a seething pot and [burning] rushes.
21 His breath kindleth coals, and a flame cometh out of his mouth.
His breath kindleth coals, and a flame goeth forth from his mouth.
22 In his neck abideth strength, and before him danceth terror joyfully.
In his neck abideth 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 firm upon him; they cannot be moved.
24 His heart is firm like a stone: yea, as firm as the nether millstone.
His heart is as 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: by reason of consternation they are beside themselves.
26 If one overtake him with the sword, it cannot hold; nor the spear, the dart, and armor.
If one lay at him with the sword, it cannot avail; nor the spear, the dart, nor the pointed shaft.
27 He esteemeth iron as straw, [and] brass as rotten wood.
He counteth iron as straw, [and] brass as rotten wood.
28 The child of the bow cannot make him flee: into stubble are slingstones changed unto him.
The arrow cannot 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 rushing of the javelin.
30 Beneath him are sharp-pointed potsherds, he spreadeth out, [as it were, a] threshing-roller upon the mire.
His underparts are [like] sharp potsherds: he spreadeth [as it were] a threshing wain 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 ointment.
32 Behind him he causeth his pathway to shine, [so that] men esteem the deep to be hoary.
He maketh a 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, that is made without fear.
34 He looketh upon all that is high: he is the king over all the ravenous beasts.
He beholdeth every thing that is high: he is king over all the sons of pride.

< Job 41 >