Job 40

1 Then Yahweh said to Job,

Moreover, the LORD answered Job, and said,

2 “Do you still want to argue with me, the Almighty One? Since you criticize me, (you should be able to answer my questions!/why are you not able to answer my questions?) [RHQ]”

Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct [him]? he that reproveth God, let him answer it.

3 Then Job replied to Yahweh,

Then Job answered the LORD, and said,

4 “[Now I realize that] I am completely worthless. So (how could I answer [those questions]?/I could not possibly answer [those questions]!) [RHQ] I will put my hand over my mouth [and not say anything].

Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay my hand upon my mouth.

5 I have already said more than I should have said, so now I will say nothing more.”

Once have I spoken; but I will not answer: yes, twice; but I will proceed no further.

6 Then Yahweh [again] spoke to Job from inside the great windstorm. He said,

Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,

7 “I want to ask you some [more] questions. So as men prepare themselves for a difficult task [MET], prepare yourself again to answer some [more] questions.

Gird up thy loins now like a man: I will demand of thee, and declare thou to me.

8 “Are you going to accuse me and say that I am unjust? Are you going to say that what I have done is wrong, in order that you can say that what you have done is right?

Wilt thou also disannul my judgment? wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be righteous?

9 Are you as powerful [MTY] as I am? Can your voice sound [as loud] as thunder, as mine can?

Hast thou an arm like God? or canst thou thunder with a voice like his?

10 [If you can do that], put on the robes that show that you are glorious and are greatly honored!

Deck thyself now [with] majesty and excellence; and array thyself with glory and beauty.

11 Show that you are very angry; show that you have the right/authority to humble people who are [very] proud!

Cast abroad the rage of thy wrath: and behold every one [that is] proud, and abase him.

12 Humble those proud people [just] by looking at them [angrily] Crush wicked people quickly!

Look on every one [that is] proud, [and] bring him low; and tread down the wicked in their place.

13 Bury them in the ground! Send them to the place where dead people are, where they will not be able to get out!

Hide them in the dust together; bind their faces in secret.

14 After you do that, I will congratulate/praise you and say that [truly] you can save yourself by your own ability/power.

Then will I also confess to thee that thy own right hand can save thee.

15 “Think [also] about the huge animals that live near the water. I made you, and I made them also. They eat grass, like oxen do.

Behold now behemoth, which I made with thee; he eateth grass as an ox.

16 Their legs/thighs are [very] strong, and the muscles of their bellies are [very] powerful.

Lo now, his strength [is] in his loins, and his force [is] in the navel of his belly.

17 Their tails are stiff (OR, bend down) like the branches of a cedar tree. The sinews/muscles of their thighs are close together.

He moveth his tail like a cedar: the sinews of his male organs are wrapped together.

18 Their [thigh] bones are [like] tubes [made] of bronze, and the bones of their legs are like bars [made] of iron.

His bones [are as] strong pieces of brass; his bones [are] like bars of iron.

19 They are among the strongest of the animals that I made, and I, who created them, am the only one who can kill them.

He [is] the chief of the ways of God: he that made him can make his sword to approach [him].

20 On the hills grows food [PRS] for them to eat while many [HYP] other wild animals play nearby.

Surely the mountains bring him forth food, where all the beasts of the field play.

21 They lie down [in the water] under the lotus plants; they hide in [tall] reeds in the swamps.

He lieth under the shady trees, in the covert of the reed, and fens.

22 Those huge animals find shade under the lotus plants, and they are surrounded by poplar trees.

The shady trees cover him [with] their shadow; the willows of the brook encompass him.

23 They are not disturbed by raging/swiftly-flowing rivers; they are not even disturbed/frightened when [rivers like the] Jordan [River] rush over them.

Behold, he drinketh up a river, [and] hasteth not: he trusteth that he can draw up Jordan into his mouth.

24 No one can [RHQ] catch them by blinding their eyes or by piercing their noses with [the teeth of] a trap!”

He taketh it with his eyes: [his] nose pierceth through snares.