Job 40

1 And the Lord addressed Job, and said,

Moreover Yahweh answered Job,

2 Will he that contendeth with the Almighty yet find fault? him that reproveth God answer this.

“Shall he who argues contend with the Almighty? He who argues with God, let him answer it.”

3 Then answered Job the Lord, and said,

Then Job answered Yahweh,

4 Behold, I am too vile: what shall I answer thee? my hand do I place on my mouth.

“Behold, I am of small account. What will I answer you? I lay my hand on my mouth.

5 Once have I spoken; but I will not answer: yea, twice; but I will not repeat it again.

I have spoken once, and I will not answer; Yes, twice, but I will proceed no further.”

6 Then answered the Lord unto Job out of the storm-wind, and said,

Then Yahweh answered Job out of the whirlwind:

7 Do but gird up like a mighty man thy loins: I will ask thee, and do thou inform me.

“Now brace yourself like a man. I will question you, and you will answer me.

8 Wilt thou indeed annul my decree? wilt thou condemn me, in order that thou mayest appear righteous?

Will you even annul my judgment? Will you condemn me, that you may be justified?

9 But if thou hast an arm like God, or if thou canst thunder loudly like him:

Or do you have an arm like God? Can you thunder with a voice like him?

10 Then do deck thyself with excellence and greatness, and clothe thyself in majesty and glory.

“Now deck yourself with excellency and dignity. Array yourself with honor and majesty.

11 Scatter abroad the ragings of thy wrath, and look on every proud one, and humble him.

Pour out the fury of your anger. Look at everyone who is proud, and bring him low.

12 Look on every proud one, and bend him low; and tread down the wicked in their place.

Look at everyone who is proud, and humble him. Crush the wicked in their place.

13 Hide them in the dust altogether: bind up their faces in concealment.

Hide them in the dust together. Bind their faces in the hidden place.

14 Then will I also myself praise thee, when thy own right hand hath helped thee.

Then I will also admit to you that your own right hand can save you.

15 Only behold Behemoth, which I made near thee: grass he eateth like the ox.

“See now behemoth, which I made as well as you. He eats grass as an ox.

16 Only see, [how great] is his strength in his loins, and his force, in the muscles of his belly.

Look now, his strength is in his thighs. His force is in the muscles of his belly.

17 He stretcheth out his tail like a cedar: the sinews of his loins are closely wrapped together.

He moves his tail like a cedar. The sinews of his thighs are knit together.

18 His bones are like pipes of brass: his frame is like bars of iron.

His bones are like tubes of bronze. His limbs are like bars of iron.

19 He is the first in rank of the works of God: he that made him can alone bring his sword near unto him.

He is the chief of the ways of God. He who made him gives him his sword.

20 But truly the mountains bear for him his food, and all the beasts of the field play there.

Surely the mountains produce food for him, where all the animals of the field play.

21 Under shady trees he lieth down, in the covert of the reeds, and swamp.

He lies under the lotus trees, in the covert of the reed, and the marsh.

22 Shady trees cover him as his shadow: willows of the brook encompass him about.

The lotuses cover him with their shade. The willows of the brook surround him.

23 Behold, a river sweepeth violently along, but he hasteneth not away: he remaineth quiet, though a Jordan rusheth up to his mouth.

Behold, if a river overflows, he doesn’t tremble. He is confident, though the Jordan swells even to his mouth.

24 Can one catch him before his eyes? pierce his nose by means of snares?—

Shall any take him when he is on the watch, or pierce through his nose with a snare?