Job, 41

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

1. Canst thou draw out leviathan with an hook? or his tongue with a cord [which] thou lettest down?

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

2. Canst thou put an hook into his nose? or bore his jaw through with a thorn?

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

3. Will he make many supplications unto thee? will he speak soft [words] unto thee?

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

4. Will he make a covenant with thee? wilt thou take him for a servant for ever?

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

5. Wilt thou play with him as [with] a bird? or wilt thou bind him for thy maidens?

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

6. Shall the companions make a banquet of him? shall they part him among the merchants?

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

7. Canst thou fill his skin with barbed irons? or his head with fish spears?

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

8. Lay thine hand upon him, remember the battle, do no more.

9. sticking to one another making an impervious whole.

9. Behold, the hope of him is in vain: shall not [one] be cast down even at the sight of him?

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

10. None [is so] fierce that dare stir him up: who then is able to stand before me?

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

11. Who hath prevented me, that I should repay [him? whatsoever is] under the whole heaven is mine.

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

12. I will not conceal his parts, nor his power, nor his comely proportion.

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

13. Who can discover the face of his garment? [or] who can come [to him] with his double bridle?

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

14. Who can open the doors of his face? his teeth [are] terrible round about.

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

15. [His] scales [are his] pride, shut up together [as with] a close 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 stick together, that they cannot be sundered.

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

18. By his neesings a light doth shine, and his eyes [are] like the eyelids of the morning.

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

19. Out of his mouth go burning lamps, [and] sparks of fire leap out.

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

20. Out of his nostrils goeth smoke, as [out] of a seething pot or caldron.

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

21. His breath kindleth coals, and a flame goeth out of his mouth.

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

22. In his neck remaineth strength, and sorrow is turned into joy before him.

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

23. The flakes of his flesh are joined together: they are firm in themselves; they cannot be moved.

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

24. His heart is as firm as a stone; yea, as hard as a piece of the nether [millstone].

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

25. When he raiseth up himself, the mighty are afraid: by reason of breakings they purify themselves.

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

26. The sword of him that layeth at him cannot hold: the spear, the dart, nor the habergeon.

27.

27. He esteemeth iron as straw, [and] brass as rotten wood.

28.

28. The arrow cannot make him flee: slingstones are turned with him into stubble.

29.

29. Darts are counted as stubble: he laugheth at the shaking of a spear.

30.

30. Sharp stones [are] under him: he spreadeth sharp pointed things upon the mire.

31.

31. He maketh the deep to boil like a pot: he maketh the sea like a pot of ointment.

32.

32. He maketh a path to shine after him; [one] would think the deep [to be] hoary.

33.

33. Upon earth there is not his like, who is made without fear.

34.

34. He beholdeth all high [things]: he [is] a king over all the children of pride.