Job 40
1 Moreover, the LORD answered Job, and said,
God continued speaking to Job.
2 Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct [him]? he that reproveth God, let him answer it.
“Are you still going to fight with the Almighty and try to set him straight? Anyone who argues with God must give some answers.”
3 Then Job answered the LORD, and said,
Job answered the Lord,
4 Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay my hand upon my mouth.
“Me—I am nothing at all. I have no answers. I put my hand in front of my mouth.
5 Once have I spoken; but I will not answer: yes, twice; but I will proceed no further.
I have already said far too much and I won't say anything more.”
6 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,
Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind,
7 Gird up thy loins now like a man: I will demand of thee, and declare thou to me.
“Prepare yourself, be strong, for I am going to question you, and you must answer me.
8 Wilt thou also disannul my judgment? wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be righteous?
Are you really going to say my decisions are wrong? Are you going to condemn me so you can be right?
9 Hast thou an arm like God? or canst thou thunder with a voice like his?
Are you as powerful as I am? Does your voice thunder like mine?
10 Deck thyself now [with] majesty and excellence; and array thyself with glory and beauty.
Why don't you dress yourself with majesty and dignity, and clothe yourself with glory and splendor!
11 Cast abroad the rage of thy wrath: and behold every one [that is] proud, and abase him.
Let loose your fierce anger. Humble the proud with a glance.
12 Look on every one [that is] proud, [and] bring him low; and tread down the wicked in their place.
Bring down the proud with your gaze; tread the wicked underfoot right where they are.
13 Hide them in the dust together; bind their faces in secret.
Bury them in the dust; lock them away in the grave.
14 Then will I also confess to thee that thy own right hand can save thee.
Then I will also agree that your own strength can save you.
15 Behold now behemoth, which I made with thee; he eateth grass as an ox.
Consider Behemoth, a creature I made just like I made you. It eats grass like cattle.
16 Lo now, his strength [is] in his loins, and his force [is] in the navel of his belly.
Look at its powerful loins, the muscles of its belly.
17 He moveth his tail like a cedar: the sinews of his male organs are wrapped together.
It bends its tail like a cedar; its thigh sinews are strong.
18 His bones [are as] strong pieces of brass; his bones [are] like bars of iron.
Its bones are like bronze tubes; its limbs like iron rods.
19 He [is] the chief of the ways of God: he that made him can make his sword to approach [him].
It is the most important example of what God can do; only the one who made it can approach it with a sword.
20 Surely the mountains bring him forth food, where all the beasts of the field play.
The hills produce food for it, and all the wild animals play there.
21 He lieth under the shady trees, in the covert of the reed, and fens.
It lies under the lotus; it hides in the reeds of the marsh.
22 The shady trees cover him [with] their shadow; the willows of the brook encompass him.
The lotus covers it with shade; the willow trees of the valley surround it.
23 Behold, he drinketh up a river, [and] hasteth not: he trusteth that he can draw up Jordan into his mouth.
Even if the river is in flood, it is not concerned; it remains calm when the Jordan river surges against it.
24 He taketh it with his eyes: [his] nose pierceth through snares.
No one can catch it while it is watching, or pierce its nose with a noose.
