Job 41
1 Kannst du das Krokodil mit einer Angel ziehen und seine Zunge mit dem Stricke niederdrücken?
“[Think also about] (crocodiles/great sea dragons). Can you catch them with a fishhook or fasten their jaws with a rope?
2 Kannst du ihm durch die Nase eine Binsenschnur durchziehen? Durchbohren mit dem Haken seine Backe?
Can you put ropes through their noses [to control them] or thrust hooks through their jaws?
3 Wird's dir viel Flehens machen; wird's dir wohl gute Worte geben?
Will they plead with you to act mercifully toward them or (use sweet talk/speak to you nicely) [in order that you will not harm them]?
4 Mit dir Verträge schließen, daß du's zum Knecht für immer nehmest?
Will they make an agreement with you to work for you, to be your slaves as long as they live?
5 Kannst du mit ihm wohl spielen wie mit einem Vöglein? Und bindest du's für deine Mädchen an,
Can you cause them to become pets like you cause birds to become your pets? Can you put a leash/rope around their [necks] so that your servant girls [can play with them]?
6 die seinetwegen Freundinnen einladen und unter Mägdlein es verlosen?
Will merchants try to buy them [in the market]? Will they cut them up into pieces and sell the meat?
7 Kannst du mit Stacheln seine Haut ihm spicken und seinen Kopf mit schwirrenden Harpunen?
Can you pierce their skins by throwing fishing spears at them? Can you pierce their heads with a harpoon?
8 Leg' deine Hand einmal daran! Bedenke, welch ein Kampf! Du tust's nie wieder."
If you grab one of them with your hands, it will fight you in a way that you will never forget, and you will never try to do it again!
9 "Ja, seine Hoffnung wird getäuscht; bei seinem bloßen Anblick stürzt er hin.
It is useless to try to subdue them. Anyone who tries to subdue one of them will lose his courage.
10 Kein Mensch ist so verwegen, daß er's reizt. 'Wer stellt sich vor mich hin?
No one dares/tries to (arouse them/cause them to be angry). So, [since I am much more powerful than they are, ] (who would dare to cause me to be angry?/no one would dare to cause me to be angry!) [RHQ]
11 Wer griff mich an, und ich ließ diesen unversehrt entkommen? Mein wär ein solcher unterm ganzen Himmel.'
Also, everything on the earth is mine. Therefore, no one [RHQ] is able to give anything to me and require me to pay [money] for it!
12 Von seinen Gliedern kann ich nimmer schweigen und nicht von seiner Kraft, vom Ebenmaße seines Baues.
I will tell you about [how strong] crocodiles' legs [are] and how strong their well-formed bodies are.
13 Wer kann sein äußeres Kleid beschreiben, und wer sein doppeltes Gebiß abzeichnen?
(Can anyone strip off their hides?/No one is able to strip off their hides.) [RHQ] (Can anyone try to put bridles on them?/No one can try to put bridles on them.) [RHQ] (OR, Can anyone pierce their very thick hides?)
14 Wer läßt in seines Rachens Doppeltüre sehen? Um seine Zähne lagert Schrecken.
(Can anyone pry open their jaws, which have terrible teeth in them?/No one can pry open their jaws, which have terrible teeth in them!) [RHQ]
15 Sein Rücken ist aus Rinnen voller Schilde, in engem Anschluß fest verschlossen.
They have rows of scales on their back which are as hard as a rock (OR, tightly fastened together).
16 Eins reiht sich an das andere; dazwischen gibt es keine Fuge.
The scales are very close together, with the result that not even air can get between them.
17 Ein jedes hängt am anderen fest. Sie schließen unzertrennlich sich zusammen.
The scales are joined very closely to each other, and they cannot be separated.
18 Sein Niesen läßt das Licht aufleuchten, und seine Augen sind der Morgenröte Wimpern gleich.
When crocodiles sneeze, [the tiny drops of water that come out of their noses] sparkle in the sunlight. Their eyes are red like the rising sun.
19 Aus seinem Rachen fahren Fackeln, sprühen Feuerfunken.
[It is as though] sparks of fire pour out of their mouths [DOU].
20 Aus seinen Nüstern fährt ein Dampf gleichwie aus einem siedend heißen Topf.
Smoke pours out of their nostrils/noses like steam comes out of a pot that is put over a fire made from dry reeds.
21 Sein Odem zündet Kohlen an; aus seinem Rachen fahren Flammen.
Their breath can cause coals to blaze, and flames shoot out from their mouths.
22 In seinem Nacken wohnt die Kraft; ein Sack hängt vorn an ihm herab.
Their necks are very strong; wherever they go, they cause people to be very afraid.
23 Die Wampen seines Fleisches haften fest, ihm angegossen, unbeweglich.
The folds in their flesh are very close together and are very hard/firm.
24 Sein Herz fest wie ein Stein, fest wie ein unterer Mühlstein.
[They are fearless, because] the inner parts of their bodies are as hard as a rock, as hard as the lower millstone [on which grain is ground].
25 Wenn's auffährt, zagen Stärkste, sie taumeln ob der Wasserwirbel.
When they rise up, they cause [even] very strong people to be terrified. As a result, people (fall back/run away) when crocodiles thrash around.
26 Wenn man's mit einem Schwerte trifft, hält dies nicht stand, nicht Lanze, Wurfgeschoß noch Panzer.
[People] [PRS] cannot injure them with swords, and spears or darts or javelins cannot injure them, either.
27 Das Eisen achtet es für Stroh, für morsches Holz das Erz.
They [certainly are not afraid of weapons made of] straw or rotten wood, but [they are not even afraid of weapons made of] iron or bronze!
28 Nicht können's Pfeile je durchbohren, und Schleudersteine sind ihm wie Strohhalme.
[Shooting] arrows [at them] does not cause them to run away. [Hurling] stones at them from a sling is like [hurling] bits of chaff at them.
29 Auch Keulen gelten ihm wie Halme, und übers Lanzenschwirren spottet es.
They are not afraid of clubs [any more than they would be afraid of men throwing] bits of straw [at them], and they laugh when they hear the whirl/sound of javelins [being thrown at them].
30 Und unten sind an ihm ganz spitze Scherben. Wie eine Dreschwalze, so fährt es auf dem Schlamm dahin.
Their bellies are covered with scales that are as sharp as broken pieces of pottery. When they drag themselves through the mud, their bellies tear up the ground like a plow.
31 Wie einen Topf, so läßt's die Tiefe brodeln; es macht das Wasser wie in einem Salbenkessel.
They stir up the water and cause it to foam [as they churn/swim through it].
32 Ein Pfad aufleuchtet hinter ihm; man hält die Flut für Silberhaar.
As they go through the water, the (wakes/trails in the water behind them) glisten. People [who see it] would think that the foam in those wakes had become white hair.
33 Auf Erden ist nicht seinesgleichen; geschaffen ist's, sich nicht zu fürchten.
There are no creatures on earth that are as fearless as crocodiles.
34 Auf alles Mächtige schaut es voll Stolz, ist's doch ein König über alle stolzen Tiere."
They are the proudest of all the creatures; [it is as though] they [rule like] kings over all the other wild animals.”
