Job 41
1 “Can you draw out Leviathan with a fish hook, or press down his tongue with a cord?
Wilt thou draw out the leviathan with the hook, and press down his tongue with a cord?
2 Can you put a rope into his nose, or pierce his jaw through with a hook?
Wilt thou put a rush-rope into his nose, and pierce his jaw with a spike?
3 Will he make many petitions to you, or will he speak soft words to you?
Will he make many supplications unto thee? or will he speak softly unto thee?
4 Will he make a covenant with you, that you should take him for a servant forever?
Will he make a covenant with thee? wilt thou take him as a bondman for ever?
5 Will you play with him as with a bird? Or will you bind him for your girls?
Wilt thou play with him as with a bird, and wilt thou bind him for thy maidens?
6 Will traders barter for him? Will they part him amongst the merchants?
Shall partners make traffic of him, will they divide him among merchants?
7 Can you fill his skin with barbed irons, or his head with fish spears?
Wilt thou fill his skin with darts, and his head with fish-spears?
8 Lay your hand on him. Remember the battle, and do so no more.
Lay thy hand upon him; remember the battle, — do no more!
9 Behold, the hope of him is in vain. Won’t one be cast down even at the sight of him?
Lo, hope as to him is belied: is not one cast down even at the sight of him?
10 None is so fierce that he dare stir him up. Who then is he who can stand before me?
None is so bold as to stir him up; and who is he that will stand before me?
11 Who has first given to me, that I should repay him? Everything under the heavens is mine.
Who hath first given to me, that I should repay [him]? [Whatsoever is] under the whole heaven is mine.
12 “I will not keep silence concerning his limbs, nor his mighty strength, nor his goodly frame.
I will not be silent as to his parts, the story of his power, and the beauty of his structure.
13 Who can strip off his outer garment? Who will come within his jaws?
Who can uncover the surface of his garment? who can come within his double jaws?
14 Who can open the doors of his face? Around his teeth is terror.
Who can open the doors of his face? Round about his teeth is terror.
15 Strong scales are his pride, shut up together with a close seal.
The rows of his shields are a pride, shut up together [as with] a close seal.
16 One is so near to another, that no air can come between them.
One is so near to another that no air can come between them;
17 They are joined to one another. They stick together, so that they can’t be pulled apart.
They are joined each to its fellow; they stick together, and cannot be sundered.
18 His sneezing flashes out light. His eyes are like the eyelids of the morning.
His sneezings flash light, and his eyes are like the eyelids of the morning.
19 Out of his mouth go burning torches. Sparks of fire leap out.
Out of his mouth go forth flames; sparks of fire leap out:
20 Out of his nostrils a smoke goes, as of a boiling pot over a fire of reeds.
Out of his nostrils goeth smoke, as out of a boiling pot and cauldron.
21 His breath kindles coals. A flame goes out of his mouth.
His breath kindleth coals, and a flame goeth out of his mouth.
22 There is strength in his neck. Terror dances before him.
In his neck lodgeth strength, and terror danceth before him.
23 The flakes of his flesh are joined together. They are firm on him. They can’t be moved.
The flakes of his flesh are joined together: they are fused upon him, they cannot be moved.
24 His heart is as firm as a stone, yes, firm as the lower millstone.
His heart is firm as a stone, yea, firm as the nether [millstone].
25 When he raises himself up, the mighty are afraid. They retreat before his thrashing.
When he raiseth himself up, the mighty are afraid: they are beside themselves with consternation.
26 If one attacks him with the sword, it can’t prevail; nor the spear, the dart, nor the pointed shaft.
If any reach him with a sword, it cannot hold; neither spear, nor dart, nor harpoon.
27 He counts iron as straw, and bronze as rotten wood.
He esteemeth iron as straw, bronze as rotten wood.
28 The arrow can’t make him flee. Sling stones are like chaff to him.
The arrow will not make him flee; slingstones are turned with him into stubble.
29 Clubs are counted as stubble. He laughs at the rushing of the javelin.
Clubs are counted as stubble; he laugheth at the shaking of a javelin.
30 His undersides are like sharp potsherds, leaving a trail in the mud like a threshing sledge.
His under parts are sharp potsherds: he spreadeth a threshing-sledge upon the mire.
31 He makes the deep to boil like a pot. He makes the sea like a pot of ointment.
He maketh the deep to boil like a pot; he maketh the sea like a pot of ointment;
32 He makes a path shine after him. One would think the deep had white hair.
He maketh the path to shine after him: one would think the deep to be hoary.
33 On earth there is not his equal, that is made without fear.
Upon earth there is not his like, who is made without fear.
34 He sees everything that is high. He is king over all the sons of pride.”
He beholdeth all high things; he is king over all the proud beasts.
