Job, 40

1. Moreover the LORD answered Job, and said,

1. Yahweh said to Job:

2. Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct [him]? he that reproveth God, let him answer it.

2. Must a faultfinder contend with the Almighty? Let him who would correct God answer.

3. Then Job answered the LORD, and said,

3. Job said:

4. Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth.

4. How can I reply, unworthy as I am! All I can do is put my hand over my mouth.

5. Once have I spoken; but I will not answer: yea, twice; but I will proceed no further.

5. I have spoken once, now I will not answer; oh, yes, twice, but I will do no further. Yahweh's discourse continues

6. Then answered the LORD unto Job out of the whirlwind, and said,

6. Then Yahweh addressed Job out of the storm:

7. Gird up thy loins now like a man: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.

7. Gird up your loins like a man; I will question you, and you must answer.

8. Wilt thou also disannul my judgment? wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be righteous?

8. Would you deny my right and condemn me that you may be justified?

9. Hast thou an arm like God? or canst thou thunder with a voice like him?

9. Have you an arm like that of God, and can you thunder with a voice like this?

10. Deck thyself now [with] majesty and excellency; and array thyself with glory and beauty.

10. Then adorn yourself with glory and splendor, array yourself with grandeur and majesty.

11. Cast abroad the rage of thy wrath: and behold every one [that is] proud, and abase him.

11. Unleash the fury of your wrath;

12. Look on every one [that is] proud, [and] bring him low; and tread down the wicked in their place.

12. look for every proud man and abase him; crush the wicked where they stand.

13. Hide them in the dust together; [and] bind their faces in secret.

13. Bury them all in the dust, lock them in the dungeon.

14. Then will I also confess unto thee that thine own right hand can save thee.

14. If you can do this, I myself will praise you, admittting that your right hand can save you.

15. Behold now behemoth, which I made with thee; he eateth grass as an ox.

15. Just think about Behemoth, who feeds on grass like the ox.

16. Lo now, his strength [is] in his loins, and his force [is] in the navel of his belly.

16. What strength he has in his loins, what power in the muscles of his belly!

17. He moveth his tail like a cedar: the sinews of his stones are wrapped together.

17. Like a cedar his tail sways, the sinews of his thighs are like cables.

18. His bones [are as] strong pieces of brass; his bones [are] like bars of iron.

18. His bones like tubes of bronze, his limbs like iron rods.

19. He [is] the chief of the ways of God: he that made him can make his sword to approach [unto him].

19. He is first among the works of God, created to dominate his companions.

20. Surely the mountains bring him forth food, where all the beasts of the field play.

20. The mountains give him their produce, as do all the wild beasts who play there.

21. He lieth under the shady trees, in the covert of the reed, and fens.

21. Under the lotus trees he lies, hidden among the reeds of the marsh.

22. The shady trees cover him [with] their shadow; the willows of the brook compass him about.

22. The lotus trees cover him with their shade; the poplar trees on the bank surround him.

23. Behold, he drinketh up a river, [and] hasteth not: he trusteth that he can draw up Jordan into his mouth.

23. He is not alarmed though the river rages and torrents surge against his mouth.

24. He taketh it with his eyes: [his] nose pierceth through snares.

24. Who can capture him by the eyes, or trap him and pierce his nose?

25.

25. Can you pull in Leviathan with a hook, or curb his tongue with a bit?

26.

26. Can you put a ring through his nose or pierce his jaw with a hook?

27.

27. Will he keep begging you for mercy, or speak to you with tender words?

28.

28. Will you make him your slave forever?

29.

29. Will you make a pet of him like a bird, or put him on a leash for your maids?

30.

30. Will traders bargain for him? Will merchants sell him retail?

31.

31. Can you fill his hide with harpoons or his head with fish spears?

32.

32. Just try and lay a hand on him - you will not forget the struggle, and you will never do it again!