< Job 40 >

1 Moreover the LORD answered Job,
Moreover the LORD answered Job, and said,
2 “Shall he who argues contend with the Almighty? He who argues with God, let him answer it.”
Shall he that contends with the Almighty instruct him? he that reproves God, let him answer it.
3 Then Job answered the LORD,
Then Job answered the LORD, and said,
4 “Behold, I am of small account. What will I answer you? I lay my hand on my mouth.
Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer you? I will lay my hand on my mouth.
5 I have spoken once, and I will not answer; Yes, twice, but I will proceed no further.”
Once have I spoken; but I will not answer: yes, twice; but I will proceed no further.
6 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind:
Then answered the LORD to Job out of the whirlwind, and said,
7 “Now brace yourself like a man. I will question you, and you will answer me.
Gird up your loins now like a man: I will demand of you, and declare you to me.
8 Will you even annul my judgement? Will you condemn me, that you may be justified?
Will you also cancel my judgment? will you condemn me, that you may be righteous?
9 Or do you have an arm like God? Can you thunder with a voice like him?
Have you an arm like God? or can you thunder with a voice like him?
10 “Now deck yourself with excellency and dignity. Array yourself with honour and majesty.
Deck yourself now with majesty and excellency; and array yourself with glory and beauty.
11 Pour out the fury of your anger. Look at everyone who is proud, and bring him low.
Cast abroad the rage of your wrath: and behold every one that is proud, and abase him.
12 Look at everyone who is proud, and humble him. Crush the wicked in their place.
Look on every one that is proud, and bring him low; and tread down the wicked in their place.
13 Hide them in the dust together. Bind their faces in the hidden place.
Hide them in the dust together; and bind their faces in secret.
14 Then I will also admit to you that your own right hand can save you.
Then will I also confess to you that your own right hand can save you.
15 “See now behemoth, which I made as well as you. He eats grass as an ox.
Behold now behemoth, which I made with you; he eats grass as an ox.
16 Look now, his strength is in his thighs. His force is in the muscles of his belly.
See now, his strength is in his loins, and his force is in the navel of his belly.
17 He moves his tail like a cedar. The sinews of his thighs are knit together.
He moves his tail like a cedar: the sinews of his stones are wrapped together.
18 His bones are like tubes of bronze. His limbs are like bars of iron.
His bones are as strong pieces of brass; his bones are like bars of iron.
19 He is the chief of the ways of God. He who made him gives him his sword.
He is the chief of the ways of God: he that made him can make his sword to approach to him.
20 Surely the mountains produce food for him, where all the animals of the field play.
Surely the mountains bring him forth food, where all the beasts of the field play.
21 He lies under the lotus trees, in the covert of the reed, and the marsh.
He lies under the shady trees, in the covert of the reed, and fens.
22 The lotuses cover him with their shade. The willows of the brook surround him.
The shady trees cover him with their shadow; the willows of the brook compass him about.
23 Behold, if a river overflows, he doesn’t tremble. He is confident, though the Jordan swells even to his mouth.
Behold, he drinks up a river, and hastens not: he trusts that he can draw up Jordan into his mouth.
24 Shall any take him when he is on the watch, or pierce through his nose with a snare?
He takes it with his eyes: his nose pierces through snares.

< Job 40 >