Job 40
1 And Jehovah answered Job and said,
God continued speaking to Job.
2 Shall he that will contend with the Almighty instruct [him]? he that reproveth God, let him answer it.
“Are you still going to fight with the Almighty and try to set him straight? Anyone who argues with God must give some answers.”
3 And Job answered Jehovah and said,
Job answered the Lord,
4 Behold, I am nought: what shall I answer thee? I will lay my hand upon my mouth.
“Me—I am nothing at all. I have no answers. I put my hand in front of my mouth.
5 Once have I spoken, and I will not answer; yea twice, but I will proceed no further.
I have already said far too much and I won't say anything more.”
6 And Jehovah answered Job out of the whirlwind and said,
Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind,
7 Gird up now thy loins like a man: I will demand of thee, and inform thou me.
“Prepare yourself, be strong, for I am going to question you, and you must answer me.
8 Wilt thou also annul my judgment? wilt thou condemn me that thou mayest be righteous?
Are you really going to say my decisions are wrong? Are you going to condemn me so you can be right?
9 Hast thou an arm like God? or canst thou thunder with a voice like him?
Are you as powerful as I am? Does your voice thunder like mine?
10 Deck thyself now with glory and excellency, and clothe thyself with majesty and splendour.
Why don't you dress yourself with majesty and dignity, and clothe yourself with glory and splendor!
11 Cast abroad the ragings of thine anger, and look on every one that is proud, and abase him:
Let loose your fierce anger. Humble the proud with a glance.
12 Look on every one that is proud, bring him low, and tread down the wicked in their place:
Bring down the proud with your gaze; tread the wicked underfoot right where they are.
13 Hide them in the dust together; bind their faces in secret.
Bury them in the dust; lock them away in the grave.
14 Then will I also praise thee, because thy right hand saveth thee.
Then I will also agree that your own strength can save you.
15 See now the behemoth, which I made with thee: he eateth grass as an ox.
Consider Behemoth, a creature I made just like I made you. It eats grass like cattle.
16 Behold now, his strength is in his loins, and his force is in the muscles of his belly.
Look at its powerful loins, the muscles of its belly.
17 He bendeth his tail like a cedar; the sinews of his thighs are woven together.
It bends its tail like a cedar; its thigh sinews are strong.
18 His bones are tubes of bronze, his members are like bars of iron.
Its bones are like bronze tubes; its limbs like iron rods.
19 He is the chief of God's ways: he that made him gave him his sword.
It is the most important example of what God can do; only the one who made it can approach it with a sword.
20 For the mountains bring him forth food, where all the beasts of the field play.
The hills produce food for it, and all the wild animals play there.
21 He lieth under lotus-bushes, in the covert of the reed and fen:
It lies under the lotus; it hides in the reeds of the marsh.
22 Lotus-bushes cover him with their shade; the willows of the brook surround him.
The lotus covers it with shade; the willow trees of the valley surround it.
23 Lo, the river overfloweth — he startleth not: he is confident though a Jordan break forth against his mouth.
Even if the river is in flood, it is not concerned; it remains calm when the Jordan river surges against it.
24 Shall he be taken in front? will they pierce through [his] nose in the trap?
No one can catch it while it is watching, or pierce its nose with a noose.
