Job 41
1 Kannst du das Krokodil mit der Angel ziehen und mit der Schnur seine Zunge niederdrücken?
“[Think also about] (crocodiles/great sea dragons). Can you catch them with a fishhook or fasten their jaws with a rope?
2 Ziehst du ihm eine Binsenschnur durch die Nase und durchbohrst du mit dem Haken seine Backe?
Can you put ropes through their noses [to control them] or thrust hooks through their jaws?
3 Wird es dir viel Flehens machen oder dir 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 Wird es einen Vertrag mit dir eingehen, daß du es für immer zum Sklaven nehmest?
Will they make an agreement with you to work for you, to be your slaves as long as they live?
5 Wirst du mit ihm spielen, wie mit einem Vöglein und kannst du es anbinden für deine Mädchen?
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 Feilschen darum die Zunftgenossen, verteilen es unter die Händler?
Will merchants try to buy them [in the market]? Will they cut them up into pieces and sell the meat?
7 Kannst du sein Haupt mit Stacheln 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 Lege nur deine Hand an es - gedenke, welch' ein Kampf! du wirst's nicht wieder thun.
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 ward betrogen; wird er doch schon bei seinem Anblick hingestreckt.
It is useless to try to subdue them. Anyone who tries to subdue one of them will lose his courage.
10 So tollkühn ist keiner, daß er es reizen dürfte, - und wer ist, der mir sich stellen dürfte?
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 hat mir etwas zuvor gethan, daß ich vergelten müßte? Was irgendwo unter dem Himmel ist, gehört mir!
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 Ich darf nicht schweigen von seinen Gliedern, noch von der Stärke und der Schönheit seines Baus.
I will tell you about [how strong] crocodiles' legs [are] and how strong their well-formed bodies are.
13 Wer hat je vorn sein Gewand aufgedeckt, und wer dringt in seines Gebisses Doppelreihen?
(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 hat je seines Rachens Doppelthor geöffnet? Um seine Zähne rings ist 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 Ein Stolz sind die Rinnen der Schilde, mit festem Siegel 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, kein Lüftchen dringt zwischen sie ein.
The scales are very close together, with the result that not even air can get between them.
17 Jedes hängt am andern fest; sie schließen sich zusammen unzertrennlich.
The scales are joined very closely to each other, and they cannot be separated.
18 Sein Niesen läßt Licht erglänzen, und seine Augen gleichen der Morgenröte Wimpern.
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 Seinem Rachen entfahren Fackeln, entsprühen Feuerfunken.
[It is as though] sparks of fire pour out of their mouths [DOU].
20 Aus seinen Nüstern dringt Dampf hervor wie von einem siedenden Topf mit Binsenfeuerung.
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 entzündet Kohlen, und Flammen entfahren seinem Rachen.
Their breath can cause coals to blaze, and flames shoot out from their mouths.
22 Auf seinem Halse wohnt die Kraft, und vor ihm her tanzt Verzagen.
Their necks are very strong; wherever they go, they cause people to be very afraid.
23 Die Wampen seines Leibes haften fest, ihm angegossen unbeweglich.
The folds in their flesh are very close together and are very hard/firm.
24 Sein Herz ist fest gegossen wie Stein, ja fest gegossen, 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 es auffährt, so fürchten sich Helden, geraten vor Schrecken in Verwirrung.
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 Greift man es an mit dem Schwert - so hält das nicht Stand, nicht Lanze, Pfeil und Panzer.
[People] [PRS] cannot injure them with swords, and spears or darts or javelins cannot injure them, either.
27 Es achtet das Eisen für Stroh, für wurmstichig 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 Der Sohn des Bogens verjagt es nicht, in Strohhalme verwandeln sich ihm Schleudersteine.
[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 Wie Strohhalme gelten ihm Keulen, und es lacht des Sausens der Lanze.
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 Unten an ihm sind spitzeste Scherben; einen Dreschschlitten breitet es aus auf dem Schlamm.
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 Es macht die Tiefe sieden wie einen Topf, macht das Wasser einem Salbenkessel gleich.
They stir up the water and cause it to foam [as they churn/swim through it].
32 Hinter ihm leuchtet ein Pfad auf; 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 Nichts kommt ihm gleich auf Erden, ihm, das geschaffen ist, sich nie zu fürchten.
There are no creatures on earth that are as fearless as crocodiles.
34 Auf alles Hohe sieht es herab - ein König ist es über alle Stolzen!
They are the proudest of all the creatures; [it is as though] they [rule like] kings over all the other wild animals.”
