< 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 (sea serpent) with an hook? or his tongue with a cord which you let down?
2 Canst thou put a rope into his nose? or pierce his jaw through with a hook?
Can you put an hook into his nose? or bore his jaw through with a thorn?
3 Will he make many supplications unto thee? or will he speak soft words unto thee?
Will he make many supplications unto you? will he speak soft words unto 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? will you take him for a servant for ever?
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 maidens?
6 Shall the bands [of fishermen] make traffic of him? shall they part him among the merchants?
Shall the companions make a banquet of him? shall 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 thine hand upon him; remember the battle, and do so no more.
Lay your hand upon him, remember the battle, do 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: shall not one be cast down even at the sight of him?
10 None is so fierce that he dare stir him up: who then is he that can stand before me?
None is so fierce that dare stir him up: who then is able to stand before me?
11 Who hath first given unto me, that I should repay him? [whatsoever is] under the whole heaven is mine.
Who has prevented me, that I should repay him? whatsoever is under the whole heaven is mine.
12 I will not keep silence concerning his limbs, nor his mighty strength, nor his comely proportion.
I will not conceal his parts, nor his power, nor his comely proportion.
13 Who can strip off his outer garment? who shall come within his double bridle?
Who can discover the face of his garment? or who can come to him with his double bridle?
14 Who can open the doors of his face? round about his teeth is terror.
Who can open the doors of his face? his teeth are terrible round about.
15 His strong scales are [his] pride, shut up together [as with] a close seal.
His scales are his pride, shut up together as 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 one to another, they stick together, that they cannot be sundered.
18 His neesings flash forth light, and his eyes are like the eyelids of the morning.
By his exhaling a light does shine, and 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 lamps, and sparks of fire leap out.
20 Out of his nostrils a smoke goeth, as of a seething pot and [burning] rushes.
Out of his nostrils goes smoke, as out of a seething pot or caldron.
21 His breath kindleth coals, and a flame goeth forth from his mouth.
His breath kindles coals, and a flame goes out of his mouth.
22 In his neck abideth strength, and terror danceth before him.
In his neck remains strength, and sorrow is turned into joy 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 in themselves; they cannot 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; yea, as hard as a piece of the nether millstone.
25 When he raiseth himself up, the mighty are afraid: by reason of consternation they are beside themselves.
When he raises up himself, the mighty are afraid: by reason of breakings they purify themselves.
26 If one lay at him with the sword, it cannot avail; nor the spear, the dart, nor the pointed shaft.
The sword of him that lays at him cannot hold: the spear, the dart, nor the armour of jacket.
27 He counteth iron as straw, [and] brass as rotten wood.
He esteems iron as straw, and brass as rotten wood.
28 The arrow cannot make him flee: slingstones are turned with him into stubble.
The arrow cannot make him flee: sling stones are turned with him into stubble.
29 Clubs are counted as stubble: he laugheth at the rushing of the javelin.
Darts are counted as stubble: he laughs at the shaking of a spear.
30 His underparts are [like] sharp potsherds: he spreadeth [as it were] a threshing wain upon the mire.
Sharp stones are under him: he spreads sharp pointed things upon the mire.
31 He maketh the deep to boil like a pot: he maketh the sea like ointment.
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 to shine after him; one would think the deep to be hoary.
33 Upon earth there is not his like, that is made without fear.
Upon earth there is not his like, who is made without fear.
34 He beholdeth every thing that is high: he is king over all the sons of pride.
He beholds all high things: he is a king over all the children of pride.

< Job 41 >