Job 40

1 Yahweh continued to speak to Job; he said,

Moreover the LORD answered Job,

2 “Should anyone who wishes to criticize try to correct the Almighty? He who argues with God, let him answer.”

“Shall he who argues contend with the Almighty? He who argues with God, let him answer it.”

3 Then Job answered Yahweh and said,

Then Job answered the LORD,

4 “See, I am insignificant; how can I answer you? I put my hand over my mouth.

“Behold, I am of small account. What will I answer you? I lay my hand on my mouth.

5 I spoke once, and I will not answer; indeed, twice, but I will proceed no further.”

I have spoken once, and I will not answer; Yes, twice, but I will proceed no further.”

6 Then Yahweh answered Job out of a fierce storm and said,

Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind:

7 “Now gird up your loins like a man, for I will ask you questions, and you must answer me.

“Now brace yourself like a man. I will question you, and you will answer me.

8 Will you actually say that I am unjust? Will you condemn me so you may claim you are right?

Will you even annul my judgment? Will you condemn me, that you may be justified?

9 Do you have an arm like God's? Can you thunder with a voice like him?

Or do you have an arm like God? Can you thunder with a voice like him?

10 Now clothe yourself in glory and dignity; array yourself in honor and majesty.

“Now deck yourself with excellency and dignity. Array yourself with honor and majesty.

11 Scatter around the excess of your anger; look at everyone who is proud and bring him down.

Pour out the fury of your anger. Look at everyone who is proud, and bring him low.

12 Look at everyone who is proud and bring him low; trample down wicked people where they stand.

Look at everyone who is proud, and humble him. Crush the wicked in their place.

13 Bury them in the earth together; imprison their faces in the hidden place.

Hide them in the dust together. Bind their faces in the hidden place.

14 Then will I also acknowledge about you that your own right hand can save you.

Then I will also admit to you that your own right hand can save you.

15 Look now at the behemoth, which I made when I made you; he eats grass like an ox.

“See now behemoth, which I made as well as you. He eats grass as an ox.

16 See now, his strength is in his loins; his power is in his belly's muscles.

Look now, his strength is in his thighs. His force is in the muscles of his belly.

17 He makes his tail like a cedar; the sinews of his thighs are joined together.

He moves his tail like a cedar. The sinews of his thighs are knit together.

18 His bones are like tubes of bronze; his legs are like bars of iron.

His bones are like tubes of bronze. His limbs are like bars of iron.

19 He is the chief of the creatures of God. Only God, who made him, can defeat him.

He is the chief of the ways of God. He who made him gives him his sword.

20 For the hills provide him with food; the beasts of the field play nearby.

Surely the mountains produce food for him, where all the animals of the field play.

21 He lies under the lotus plants in the shelter of the reeds, in the marshes.

He lies under the lotus trees, in the covert of the reed, and the marsh.

22 The lotus plants cover him with their shade; the willows of the brook are all around him.

The lotuses cover him with their shade. The willows of the brook surround him.

23 See, if a river floods its banks, he does not tremble; he is confident, though the Jordan should surge up to his mouth.

Behold, if a river overflows, he does not tremble. He is confident, though the Jordan swells even to his mouth.

24 Can anyone capture him with a hook, or pierce his nose through with a snare?

Shall any take him when he is on the watch, or pierce through his nose with a snare?