Job 41
1 Whether thou schalt mowe drawe out leuyathan with an hook, and schalt bynde with a roop his tunge?
Wilt thou draw out the leviathan with the hook, and press down his tongue with a cord?
2 Whethir thou schalt putte a ryng in hise nosethirlis, ethir schalt perse hyse cheke with `an hook?
Wilt thou put a rush-rope into his nose, and pierce his jaw with a spike?
3 Whether he schal multiplie preieris to thee, ether schal speke softe thingis to thee?
Will he make many supplications unto thee? or will he speak softly unto thee?
4 Whether he schal make couenaunt with thee, and `thou schalt take him a seruaunt euerlastinge?
Will he make a covenant with thee? wilt thou take him as a bondman for ever?
5 Whether thou schalt scorne hym as a brid, ethir schalt bynde hym to thin handmaidis?
Wilt thou play with him as with a bird, and wilt thou bind him for thy maidens?
6 Schulen frendis `kerue hym, schulen marchauntis departe hym?
Shall partners make traffic of him, will they divide him among merchants?
7 Whether thou schalt fille nettis with his skyn, and a `leep of fischis with his heed?
Wilt thou fill his skin with darts, and his head with fish-spears?
8 Schalt thou putte thin hond on hym? haue thou mynde of the batel, and adde no more to speke.
Lay thy hand upon him; remember the battle, — do no more!
9 Lo! his hope schal disseyue hym; and in the siyt of alle men he schal be cast doun.
Lo, hope as to him is belied: is not one cast down even at the sight of him?
10 I not as cruel schal reise hym; for who may ayenstonde my face?
None is so bold as to stir him up; and who is he that will stand before me?
11 And who `yaf to me bifore, that Y yelde to hym? Alle thingis, that ben vndur heuene, ben myne.
Who hath first given to me, that I should repay [him]? [Whatsoever is] under the whole heaven is mine.
12 Y schal not spare hym for myyti wordis, and maad faire to biseche.
I will not be silent as to his parts, the story of his power, and the beauty of his structure.
13 Who schal schewe the face of his clothing, and who schal entre in to the myddis of his mouth?
Who can uncover the surface of his garment? who can come within his double jaws?
14 Who schal opene the yatis of his cheer? ferdfulnesse is bi the cumpas of hise teeth.
Who can open the doors of his face? Round about his teeth is terror.
15 His bodi is as yotun scheldys of bras, and ioyned togidere with scalis ouerleiynge hem silf.
The rows of his shields are a pride, shut up together [as with] a close seal.
16 Oon is ioyned to another; and sotheli brething goith not thorouy tho.
One is so near to another that no air can come between them;
17 Oon schal cleue to anothir, and tho holdynge hem silf schulen not be departid.
They are joined each to its fellow; they stick together, and cannot be sundered.
18 His fnesynge is as schynynge of fier, and hise iyen ben as iyelidis of the morewtid.
His sneezings flash light, and his eyes are like the eyelids of the morning.
19 Laumpis comen forth of his mouth, as trees of fier, that ben kyndlid.
Out of his mouth go forth flames; sparks of fire leap out:
20 Smoke cometh forth of hise nosethirlis, as of a pot set on the fier `and boilynge.
Out of his nostrils goeth smoke, as out of a boiling pot and cauldron.
21 His breeth makith colis to brenne, and flawme goith out of his mouth.
His breath kindleth coals, and a flame goeth out of his mouth.
22 Strengthe schal dwelle in his necke, and nedynesse schal go bifor his face.
In his neck lodgeth strength, and terror danceth before him.
23 The membris of hise fleischis ben cleuynge togidere to hem silf; God schal sende floodis ayens hym, and tho schulen not be borun to an other place.
The flakes of his flesh are joined together: they are fused upon him, they cannot be moved.
24 His herte schal be maad hard as a stoon; and it schal be streyned togidere as the anefeld of a smith.
His heart is firm as a stone, yea, firm as the nether [millstone].
25 Whanne he schal be takun awei, aungels schulen drede; and thei aferd schulen be purgid.
When he raiseth himself up, the mighty are afraid: they are beside themselves with consternation.
26 Whanne swerd takith hym, it may not stonde, nethir spere, nether haburioun.
If any reach him with a sword, it cannot hold; neither spear, nor dart, nor harpoon.
27 For he schal arette irun as chaffis, and bras as rotun tre.
He esteemeth iron as straw, bronze as rotten wood.
28 A man archere schal not dryue hym awei; stoonys of a slynge ben turned in to stobil to hym.
The arrow will not make him flee; slingstones are turned with him into stubble.
29 He schal arette an hamer as stobil; and he schal scorne a florischynge spere.
Clubs are counted as stubble; he laugheth at the shaking of a javelin.
30 The beemys of the sunne schulen be vndur hym; and he schal strewe to hym silf gold as cley.
His under parts are sharp potsherds: he spreadeth a threshing-sledge upon the mire.
31 He schal make the depe se to buyle as a pot; and he schal putte, as whanne oynementis buylen.
He maketh the deep to boil like a pot; he maketh the sea like a pot of ointment;
32 A path schal schyne aftir hym; he schal gesse the greet occian as wexynge eld.
He maketh the path to shine after him: one would think the deep to be hoary.
33 No power is on erthe, that schal be comparisound to hym; which is maad, that he schulde drede noon.
Upon earth there is not his like, who is made without fear.
34 He seeth al hiy thing; he is kyng ouer alle the sones of pride.
He beholdeth all high things; he is king over all the proud beasts.
