Job 40

1 Yahweh continued to speak to Job; he said,

Moreover the LORD answered Job, and said:

2 “Should anyone who wishes to criticize try to correct the Almighty? He who argues with God, let him answer.”

Shall he that reproveth contend with the Almighty? He that argueth with God, let him answer it.

3 Then Job answered Yahweh and said,

Then Job answered the LORD, and said:

4 “See, I am insignificant; how can I answer you? I put my hand over my mouth.

Behold, I am of small account; what shall I answer Thee? I lay my hand upon my mouth.

5 I spoke once, and I will not answer; indeed, twice, but I will proceed no further.”

Once have I spoken, but I will not answer again; yea, twice, but I will proceed no further.

6 Then Yahweh answered Job out of a fierce storm and said,

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

7 “Now gird up your loins like a man, for I will ask you questions, and you must answer me.

Gird up thy loins now like a man; I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto Me.

8 Will you actually say that I am unjust? Will you condemn me so you may claim you are right?

Wilt thou even make void My judgment? Wilt thou condemn Me, that thou mayest be justified?

9 Do you have an arm like God's? Can you thunder with a voice like him?

Or hast thou an arm like God? And canst thou thunder with a voice like Him?

10 Now clothe yourself in glory and dignity; array yourself in honor and majesty.

Deck thyself now with majesty and excellency, and array thyself with glory and beauty.

11 Scatter around the excess of your anger; look at everyone who is proud and bring him down.

Cast abroad the rage of thy wrath; and look upon every one that is proud, and abase him.

12 Look at everyone who is proud and bring him low; trample down wicked people where they stand.

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

13 Bury them in the earth together; imprison their faces in the hidden place.

Hide them in the dust together; bind their faces in the hidden place.

14 Then will I also acknowledge about you that your own right hand can save you.

Then will I also confess unto thee that thine own right hand can save thee.

15 Look now at the behemoth, which I made when I made you; he eats grass like an ox.

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

16 See now, his strength is in his loins; his power is in his belly's muscles.

Lo now, his strength is in his loins, and his force is in the stays of his body.

17 He makes his tail like a cedar; the sinews of his thighs are joined together.

He straineth his tail like a cedar; the sinews of his thighs are knit together.

18 His bones are like tubes of bronze; his legs are like bars of iron.

His bones are as pipes of brass; his gristles are like bars of iron.

19 He is the chief of the creatures of God. Only God, who made him, can defeat him.

He is the beginning of the ways of God; He only that made him can make His sword to approach unto him.

20 For the hills provide him with food; the beasts of the field play nearby.

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

21 He lies under the lotus plants in the shelter of the reeds, in the marshes.

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

22 The lotus plants cover him with their shade; the willows of the brook are all around him.

The lotus-trees cover him with their shadow; the willows of the brook compass him about.

23 See, if a river floods its banks, he does not tremble; he is confident, though the Jordan should surge up to his mouth.

Behold, if a river overflow, he trembleth not; he is confident, though the Jordan rush forth to his mouth.

24 Can anyone capture him with a hook, or pierce his nose through with a snare?

Shall any take him by his eyes, or pierce through his nose with a snare?