Job - Chapter 40

1 Moreover the LORD answered Job, and said,

1 ...

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

2 Will he who is protesting give teaching to the Ruler of all? Let him who has arguments to put forward against God give an answer.

3 Then Job answered the LORD, and said,

3 And Job said in answer to the Lord,

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

4 Truly, I am of no value; what answer may I give to you? I will put my hand on my mouth.

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

5 I have said once, and even twice, what was in my mind, but I will not do so again.

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

6 Then the Lord made answer to Job out of the storm-wind, and said,

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

7 Get your strength together like a man of war: I will put questions to you, and you will give me the answers.

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

8 Will you even make my right of no value? will you say that I am wrong in order to make clear that you are right?

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

9 Have you an arm like God? have you a voice of thunder like his?

10 Deck thyself now with majesty and excellency; and array thyself with glory and beauty.

10 Put on the ornaments of your pride; be clothed with glory and power:

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

11 Let your wrath be overflowing; let your eyes see all the sons of pride, and make them low.

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

12 Send destruction on all who are lifted up, pulling down the sinners from their places.

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

13 Let them be covered together in the dust; let their faces be dark in the secret place of the underworld.

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

14 Then I will give praise to you, saying that your right hand is able to give you salvation.

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

15 See now the Great Beast, whom I made, even as I made you; he takes grass for food, like the ox.

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

16 His strength is in his body, and his force in the muscles of his stomach.

17 He moveth his tail like a cedar: the sinews of his stones are wrapped together.

17 His tail is curving like a cedar; the muscles of his legs are joined together.

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

18 His bones are pipes of brass, his legs are like rods of iron.

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

19 He is the chief of the ways of God, made by him for his pleasure.

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

20 He takes the produce of the mountains, where all the beasts of the field are at play.

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

21 He takes his rest under the trees of the river, and in the pool, under the shade of the water-plants.

22 The shady trees cover him with their shadow; the willows of the brook compass him about.

22 He is covered by the branches of the trees; the grasses of the stream are round him.

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

23 Truly, if the river is overflowing, it gives him no cause for fear; he has no sense of danger, even if Jordan is rushing against his mouth.

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

24 Will anyone take him when he is on the watch, or put metal teeth through his nose?