Job 40

¹...

²Will he who is protesting give teaching to the Ruler of all? Let him who has arguments to put forward against God give an answer.

³And Job said in answer to the Lord,

⁴Truly, I am of no value; what answer may I give to you? I will put my hand on my mouth.

⁵I have said once, and even twice, what was in my mind, but I will not do so again.

⁶Then the Lord made answer to Job out of the storm-wind, and said,

⁷Get your strength together like a man of war: I will put questions to you, and you will give me the answers.

⁸Will you even make my right of no value? will you say that I am wrong in order to make clear that you are right?

⁹Have you an arm like God? have you a voice of thunder like his?

¹⁰Put on the ornaments of your pride; be clothed with glory and power:

¹¹Let your wrath be overflowing; let your eyes see all the sons of pride, and make them low.

¹²Send destruction on all who are lifted up, pulling down the sinners from their places.

¹³Let them be covered together in the dust; let their faces be dark in the secret place of the underworld.

¹⁴Then I will give praise to you, saying that your right hand is able to give you salvation.

¹⁵See now the Great Beast, whom I made, even as I made you; he takes grass for food, like the ox.

¹⁶His strength is in his body, and his force in the muscles of his stomach.

¹⁷His tail is curving like a cedar; the muscles of his legs are joined together.

¹⁸His bones are pipes of brass, his legs are like rods of iron.

¹⁹He is the chief of the ways of God, made by him for his pleasure.

²⁰He takes the produce of the mountains, where all the beasts of the field are at play.

²¹He takes his rest under the trees of the river, and in the pool, under the shade of the water-plants.

²²He is covered by the branches of the trees; the grasses of the stream are round him.

²³Truly, if the river is overflowing, it gives him no cause for fear; he has no sense of danger, even if Jordan is rushing against his mouth.

²⁴Will anyone take him when he is on the watch, or put metal teeth through his nose?

Job 40

¹Moreover the Lord answered Job,

²"Shall he who argues contend with the Almighty? He who argues with God, let him answer it."

³Then Job answered the Lord,

⁴"Behold, I am of small account. What shall I answer you? I lay my hand on my mouth.

⁵I have spoken once, and I will not answer; Yes, twice, but I will proceed no further."

⁶Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind,

⁷"Now brace yourself like a man. I will question you, and you will answer me.

⁸Will you even annul my judgment? Will you condemn me, that you may be justified?

⁹Or do you have an arm like God? Can you thunder with a voice like him?

¹⁰"Now deck yourself with excellency and dignity. Array yourself with honor and majesty.

¹¹Pour out the fury of your anger. Look at everyone who is proud, and bring him low.

¹²Look at everyone who is proud, and humble him. Crush the wicked in their place.

¹³Hide them in the dust together. Bind their faces in the hidden place.

¹⁴Then I will also admit 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.

¹⁶Look now, his strength is in his thighs. His force is in the muscles of his belly.

¹⁷He moves his tail like a cedar. The sinews of his thighs are knit together.

¹⁸His bones are like tubes of brass. His limbs are like bars of iron.

¹⁹He is the chief of the ways of God. He who made him gives him his sword.

²⁰Surely the mountains produce food for him, where all the animals of the field play.

²¹He lies under the lotus trees, in the covert of the reed, and the marsh.

²²The lotuses cover him with their shade. The willows of the brook surround him.

²³Behold, if a river overflows, he doesn't tremble. He is confident, though the Jordan swells even to his mouth.

²⁴Shall any take him when he is on the watch, or pierce through his nose with a snare?