Job, 40

1. Still speaking to Job, Yahweh said:

1. And the LORD said to Job:

2. Is Yahweh's opponent going to give way? Has God's critic thought up an answer?

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

3. Job replied to Yahweh:

3. Then Job answered the LORD:

4. My words have been frivolous: what can I reply? I had better lay my hand over my mouth.

4. "Behold, I am of small account; what shall I answer thee? I lay my hand on my mouth.

5. I have spoken once, I shall not speak again; I have spoken twice, I have nothing more to say.

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

6. Yahweh gave Job his answer from the heart of the tempest. He said:

6. Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind:

7. Brace yourself like a fighter, I am going to ask the questions, and you are to inform me!

7. "Gird up your loins like a man; I will question you, and you declare to me.

8. Do you really want to reverse my judgement, put me in the wrong and yourself in the right?

8. Will you even put me in the wrong? Will you condemn me that you may be justified?

9. Has your arm the strength of God's, can your voice thunder as loud?

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

10. Come on, display your majesty and grandeur, robe yourself in splendour and glory.

10. "Deck yourself with majesty and dignity; clothe yourself with glory and splendor.

11. Let the fury of your anger burst forth, humble the haughty at a glance!

11. Pour forth the overflowings of your anger, and look on every one that is proud, and abase him.

12. At a glance, bring down all the proud, strike down the wicked where they stand.

12. Look on every one that is proud, and bring him low; and tread down the wicked where they stand.

13. Bury the lot of them in the ground, shut them, every one, in the Dungeon.

13. Hide them all in the dust together; bind their faces in the world below.

14. And I shall be the first to pay you homage, since your own right hand is strong enough to save you.

14. Then will I also acknowledge to you, that your own right hand can give you victory.

15. But look at Behemoth, my creature, just as you are! He feeds on greenstuff like the ox,

15. "Behold, Be'hemoth, which I made as I made you; he eats grass like an ox.

16. but what strength he has in his loins, what power in his stomach muscles!

16. Behold, his strength in his loins, and his power in the muscles of his belly.

17. His tail is as stiff as a cedar, the sinews of his thighs are tightly knit.

17. He makes his tail stiff like a cedar; the sinews of his thighs are knit together.

18. His bones are bronze tubes, his frame like forged iron.

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

19. He is the first of the works of God. His Maker threatened him with the sword,

19. "He is the first of the works of God; let him who made him bring near his sword!

20. forbidding him the mountain regions and all the wild animals that play there.

20. For the mountains yield food for him where all the wild beasts play.

21. Under the lotus he lies, he hides among the reeds in the swamps.

21. Under the lotus plants he lies, in the covert of the reeds and in the marsh.

22. The leaves of the lotus give him shade, the willows by the stream shelter him.

22. For his shade the lotus trees cover him; the willows of the brook surround him.

23. If the river overflows, he does not worry: Jordan might come up to his mouth, but he would not care.

23. Behold, if the river is turbulent he is not frightened; he is confident though Jordan rushes against his mouth.

24. Who is going to catch him by the eyes or put poles through his nose?

24. Can one take him with hooks, or pierce his nose with a snare?

25. Leviathan, too! Can you catch him with a fish-hook or hold his tongue down with a rope?

25.

26. Can you put a cane through his nostrils or pierce his jaw with a hook?

26.

27. Will he plead lengthily with you, addressing you in diffident tones?

27.

28. Will he strike a bargain with you to become your slave for life?

28.

29. Will you make a pet of him, like a bird, keep him on a lead to amuse your little girls?

29.

30. Is he to be sold by the fishing guild and then retailed by merchants?

30.

31. Riddle his hide with darts? Or his head with fishing spears?

31.

32. You have only to lay a finger on him never to forget the struggle or risk it again!

32.