< Job 40 >

1 And the Lord God answered Job, and said, 2 Will [any one] pervert judgement with the Mighty One? and he that reproves God, let him return it for answer. 3 And Job answered and said to the Lord, 4 Why do I yet plead? being rebuked even while reproving the Lord: hearing such things, whereas I am nothing: and what shall I answer to these [arguments]? I will lay my hand upon my mouth. 5 I have spoken once; but I will not do so a second time. 6 And the Lord yet again answered and spoke to Job out of the cloud, [saying], 7 Nay, gird up now your loins like a man; and I will ask you, and do you answer me. 8 Do not set aside my judgement: and do you think that I have dealt with you in any other way, than that you might appear to be righteous? 9 Hast you an arm like the Lord's? or do you thunder with a voice like his? 10 Assume now a lofty bearing and power; and clothe yourself with glory and honour. 11 And send forth messengers with wrath; and lay low every haughty one. 12 Bring down also the proud man; and consume at once the ungodly. 13 And hide them together in the earth; and fill their faces with shame. 14 [Then] will I confess that your right hand can save [you]. 15 But now look at the wild beasts with you; they eat grass like oxen. 16 Behold now, his strength is in his loins, and his force is in the navel of his belly. 17 He sets up his tail like a cypress; and his nerves are wrapped together. 18 His sides are sides of brass; and his backbone is [as] cast iron. 19 This is the chief of the creation of the Lord; made to be played with by his angels. 20 And when he has gone up to a steep mountain, he causes joy to the quadrupeds in the deep. 21 He lies under trees of every kind, by the papyrus, and reed, and bulrush. 22 And the great trees make a shadow over him with their branches, and [so do] the bushes of the field. 23 If there should be a flood, he will not perceive it; he trust that Jordan will rush up into his mouth. 24 [Yet one] shall take him in his sight; [one] shall catch [him] with a cord, and pierce his nose.

< Job 40 >