Job, 41

1. Any hope you might have would be futile, the mere sight of him would overwhelm you.

1. "Can you draw out Levi'athan with a fishhook, or press down his tongue with a cord?

2. When roused, he grows ferocious, who could ever stand up to him?

2. Can you put a rope in his nose, or pierce his jaw with a hook?

3. Who has ever attacked him with impunity? No one beneath all heaven!

3. Will he make many supplications to you? Will he speak to you soft words?

4. Next I will talk of his limbs and describe his matchless strength-

4. Will he make a covenant with you to take him for your servant for ever?

5. who can undo the front of his tunic or pierce the double armour of his breastplate?

5. Will you play with him as with a bird, or will you put him on leash for your maidens?

6. Who dare open the gates of his mouth? Terror reigns round his teeth!

6. Will traders bargain over him? Will they divide him up among the merchants?

7. His back is like rows of shields, sealed with a stone seal,

7. Can you fill his skin with harpoons, or his head with fishing spears?

8. touching each other so close that no breath could pass between,

8. Lay hands on him; think of the battle; you will not do it again!

9. sticking to one another making an impervious whole.

9. Behold, the hope of a man is disappointed; he is laid low even at the sight of him.

10. His sneezes radiate light, his eyes are like the eyelashes of the dawn.

10. No one is so fierce that he dares to stir him up. Who then is he that can stand before me?

11. From his mouth come fiery torches, sparks of fire fly out of it.

11. Who has given to me, that I should repay him? Whatever is under the whole heaven is mine.

12. His nostrils belch smoke like a cauldron boiling on the fire.

12. "I will not keep silence concerning his limbs, or his mighty strength, or his goodly frame.

13. His breath could kindle coals, flame issues from his mouth.

13. Who can strip off his outer garment? Who can penetrate his double coat of mail?

14. His strength resides in his neck, violence leaps before him as he goes.

14. Who can open the doors of his face? Round about his teeth is terror.

15. The strips of his flesh are jointed together, firmly set in and immovable.

15. His back is made of rows of shields, shut up closely as with a seal.

16. His heart is as hard as rock unyielding as the lower millstone.

16. One is so near to another that no air can come between them.

17. When he stands up, the waves take fright and the billows of the sea retreat.

17. They are joined one to another; they clasp each other and cannot be separated.

18. Sword may strike but will not stick in him, no more will spear, javelin or lance.

18. His sneezings flash forth light, and his eyes are like the eyelids of the dawn.

19. Iron means no more to him than straw, nor bronze than rotten wood.

19. Out of his mouth go flaming torches; sparks of fire leap forth.

20. No arrow can make him flee, a sling-stone tickles him like hay.

20. Out of his nostrils comes forth smoke, as from a boiling pot and burning rushes.

21. Club seems to him like straw, he laughs at the whirring javelin.

21. His breath kindles coals, and a flame comes forth from his mouth.

22. He has sharp potsherds underneath, and moves across the slime like a harrow.

22. In his neck abides strength, and terror dances before him.

23. He makes the depths seethe like a cauldron, he makes the sea fume like a scent burner.

23. The folds of his flesh cleave together, firmly cast upon him and immovable.

24. Behind him he leaves a glittering wake -- a white fleece seems to float on the deeps.

24. His heart is hard as a stone, hard as the nether millstone.

25. He has no equal on earth, being created without fear.

25. When he raises himself up the mighty are afraid; at the crashing they are beside themselves.

26. He looks the haughtiest in the eye; of all the lordly beasts he is king.

26. Though the sword reaches him, it does not avail; nor the spear, the dart, or the javelin.

27.

27. He counts iron as straw, and bronze as rotten wood.

28.

28. The arrow cannot make him flee; for him slingstones are turned to stubble.

29.

29. Clubs are counted as stubble; he laughs at the rattle of javelins.

30.

30. His underparts are like sharp potsherds; he spreads himself like a threshing sledge on the mire.

31.

31. He makes the deep boil like a pot; he makes the sea like a pot of ointment.

32.

32. Behind him he leaves a shining wake; one would think the deep to be hoary.

33.

33. Upon earth there is not his like, a creature without fear.

34.

34. He beholds everything that is high; he is king over all the sons of pride."