< Job 40 >

1 Moreover the LORD answered Job,
Yahweh continued to speak to Job; he said,
2 "Shall he who argues contend with Shaddai? He who argues with God, let him answer it."
“Should anyone who wishes to criticize try to correct the Almighty? He who argues with God, let him answer.”
3 Then Job answered the LORD,
Then Job answered Yahweh and said,
4 "Look, I am of small account. What shall I answer you? I lay my hand on my mouth.
“See, I am insignificant; how can I answer you? I put my hand over my mouth.
5 I have spoken once, and I will not answer; Yes, twice, but I will proceed no further."
I spoke once, and I will not answer; indeed, twice, but I will proceed no further.”
6 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind,
Then Yahweh answered Job out of a fierce storm and said,
7 "Now brace yourself like a man. I will question you, and you will answer me.
“Now gird up your loins like a man, for I will ask you questions, and you must answer me.
8 Will you even annul my judgment? Will you condemn me, that you may be justified?
Will you actually say that I am unjust? Will you condemn me so you may claim you are right?
9 Or do you have an arm like God? Can you thunder with a voice like him?
Do you have an arm like God's? Can you thunder with a voice like him?
10 "Now deck yourself with excellency and dignity. Array yourself with honor and majesty.
Now clothe yourself in glory and dignity; array yourself in honor and majesty.
11 Pour out the fury of your anger. Look at everyone who is proud, and bring him low.
Scatter around the excess of your anger; look at everyone who is proud and bring him down.
12 Look at everyone who is proud, and humble him. Crush the wicked in their place.
Look at everyone who is proud and bring him low; trample down wicked people where they stand.
13 Hide them in the dust together. Bind their faces in the hidden place.
Bury them in the earth together; imprison their faces in the hidden place.
14 Then I will also admit to you that your own right hand can save you.
Then will I also acknowledge about you that your own right hand can save you.
15 "Look now at the sauropod, which I made as well as you. He eats grass as an ox.
Look now at the behemoth, which I made when I made you; he eats grass like an ox.
16 Look now, his strength is in his thighs. His force is in the muscles of his belly.
See now, his strength is in his loins; his power is in his belly's muscles.
17 He moves his tail like a cedar. The sinews of his thighs are knit together.
He makes his tail like a cedar; the sinews of his thighs are joined together.
18 His bones are like tubes of bronze. His limbs are like bars of iron.
His bones are like tubes of bronze; his legs are like bars of iron.
19 He is the chief of the ways of God. He who made him gives him his sword.
He is the chief of the creatures of God. Only God, who made him, can defeat him.
20 Surely the mountains produce food for him, where all the animals of the field play.
For the hills provide him with food; the beasts of the field play nearby.
21 He lies under the lotus trees, in the covert of the reed, and the marsh.
He lies under the lotus plants in the shelter of the reeds, in the marshes.
22 The lotuses cover him with their shade. The willows of the brook surround him.
The lotus plants cover him with their shade; the willows of the brook are all around him.
23 Look, if a river overflows, he doesn't tremble. He is confident, though the Jordan swells even to his mouth.
See, if a river floods its banks, he does not tremble; he is confident, though the Jordan should surge up to his mouth.
24 Shall any take him when he is on the watch, or pierce through his nose with a snare?
Can anyone capture him with a hook, or pierce his nose through with a snare?

< Job 40 >