1The Lord said to Job:2‘Will the one who contends with the Almighty correct him? Let him who accuses God answer him!’3Then Job answered the Lord:4‘I am unworthy – how can I reply to you? I put my hand over my mouth.5I spoke once, but I have no answer – twice, but I will say no more.’6Then the Lord spoke to Job out of the storm:7‘Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me.8‘Would you discredit my justice? Would you condemn me to justify yourself?9Do you have an arm like God’s, and can your voice thunder like his?10Then adorn yourself with glory and splendour, and clothe yourself in honour and majesty.11Unleash the fury of your wrath, look at all who are proud and bring them low,12look at all who are proud and humble them, crush the wicked where they stand.13Bury them all in the dust together; shroud their faces in the grave.14Then I myself will admit to you that your own right hand can save you.15‘Look at Behemoth, which I made along with you and which feeds on grass like an ox.16What strength it has in its loins, what power in the muscles of its belly!17Its tail sways like a cedar; the sinews of its thighs are close-knit.18Its bones are tubes of bronze, its limbs like rods of iron.19It ranks first among the works of God, yet its Maker can approach it with his sword.20The hills bring it their produce, and all the wild animals play nearby.21Under the lotus plant it lies, hidden among the reeds in the marsh.22The lotuses conceal it in their shadow; the poplars by the stream surround it.23A raging river does not alarm it; it is secure, though the Jordan should surge against its mouth.24Can anyone capture it by the eyes, or trap it and pierce its nose?
Job 40
English Standard Version
1And the Lord said to Job: (Job 38:1)2“Shall a faultfinder contend with the Almighty? He who argues with God, let him answer it.” (Job 33:13)
Job Promises Silence
3Then Job answered the Lord and said:4“Behold, I am of small account; what shall I answer you? I lay my hand on my mouth. (Jud 18:19; Ezr 9:6; Job 21:5; Job 29:9; Job 42:6)5I have spoken once, and I will not answer; twice, but I will proceed no further.” (Job 33:14; Ps 62:11)
The Lord Challenges Job
6Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind and said: (Job 38:1)7“Dress for action[1] like a man; I will question you, and you make it known to me. (Job 38:3; Job 42:4)8Will you even put me in the wrong? Will you condemn me that you may be in the right? (Job 32:2)9Have you an arm like God, and can you thunder with a voice like his? (Job 37:4; Ps 89:13; Isa 63:12)10“Adorn yourself with majesty and dignity; clothe yourself with glory and splendor. (Ps 93:1; Ps 104:1)11Pour out the overflowings of your anger, and look on everyone who is proud and abase him. (Isa 2:11; Da 4:37)12Look on everyone who is proud and bring him low and tread down the wicked where they stand. (Job 36:20; Isa 63:3)13Hide them all in the dust together; bind their faces in the world below.[2] (Job 21:26; Isa 2:10)14Then will I also acknowledge to you that your own right hand can save you. (Ps 98:1; Isa 59:16; Isa 63:5)15“Behold, Behemoth,[3] which I made as I made you; he eats grass like an ox. (Nu 22:4)16Behold, his strength in his loins, and his power in the muscles of his belly.17He makes his tail stiff like a cedar; the sinews of his thighs are knit together.18His bones are tubes of bronze, his limbs like bars of iron.19“He is the first of the works[4] of God; let him who made him bring near his sword! (Job 26:14; Pr 8:22)20For the mountains yield food for him where all the wild beasts play.21Under the lotus plants he lies, in the shelter of the reeds and in the marsh. (Ps 68:30)22For his shade the lotus trees cover him; the willows of the brook surround him.23Behold, if the river is turbulent he is not frightened; he is confident though Jordan rushes against his mouth.24Can one take him by his eyes,[5] or pierce his nose with a snare?