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40 1-2 Job, you challenged Almighty God;
    will you give up now, or will you answer?

Job

3-4 I spoke foolishly, Lord. What can I answer?
    I will not try to say anything else.
I have already said more than I should.

Then out of the storm the Lord spoke to Job once again.

The Lord

Now stand up straight
    and answer my questions.
Are you trying to prove that I am unjust—
    to put me in the wrong and yourself in the right?
Are you as strong as I am?
    Can your voice thunder as loud as mine?
10 If so, stand up in your honor and pride;
    clothe yourself with majesty and glory.
11 Look at those who are proud;
    pour out your anger and humble them.
12 Yes, look at them and bring them down;
    crush the wicked where they stand.
13 Bury them all in the ground;
    bind them in the world of the dead.
14 Then I will be the first to praise you
    and admit that you won the victory yourself.

15 Look at the monster Behemoth;[a]
    I created him and I created you.
He eats grass like a cow,
16     but what strength there is in his body,
    and what power there is in his muscles!
17 His tail stands up like a cedar,
    and the muscles in his legs are strong.
18 His bones are as strong as bronze,
    and his legs are like iron bars.

19 The most amazing of all my creatures!
    Only his Creator can defeat him.
20 Grass to feed him grows
    on the hills where wild beasts play.[b]
21 He lies down under the thorn bushes,
    and hides among the reeds in the swamp.
22 The thorn bushes and the willows by the stream
    give him shelter in their shade.
23 He is not afraid of a rushing river;
    he is calm when the Jordan dashes in his face.
24 Who can blind his eyes and capture him?
    Or who can catch his snout in a trap?

Footnotes

  1. Job 40:15 Some identify this with the hippopotamus, others with a legendary creature.
  2. Job 40:20 Verse 20 in Hebrew is unclear.

40 The Lord said to Job:(A)

“Will the one who contends with the Almighty(B) correct him?(C)
    Let him who accuses God answer him!”(D)

Then Job answered the Lord:

“I am unworthy(E)—how can I reply to you?
    I put my hand over my mouth.(F)
I spoke once, but I have no answer(G)
    twice, but I will say no more.”(H)

Then the Lord spoke to Job out of the storm:(I)

“Brace yourself like a man;
    I will question you,
    and you shall answer me.(J)

“Would you discredit my justice?(K)
    Would you condemn me to justify yourself?(L)
Do you have an arm like God’s,(M)
    and can your voice(N) thunder like his?(O)
10 Then adorn yourself with glory and splendor,
    and clothe yourself in honor and majesty.(P)
11 Unleash the fury of your wrath,(Q)
    look at all who are proud and bring them low,(R)
12 look at all who are proud(S) and humble them,(T)
    crush(U) the wicked where they stand.
13 Bury them all in the dust together;(V)
    shroud their faces in the grave.(W)
14 Then I myself will admit to you
    that your own right hand can save you.(X)

15 “Look at Behemoth,
    which I made(Y) along with you
    and which feeds on grass like an ox.(Z)
16 What strength(AA) it has in its loins,
    what power in the muscles of its belly!(AB)
17 Its tail sways like a cedar;
    the sinews of its thighs are close-knit.(AC)
18 Its bones are tubes of bronze,
    its limbs(AD) like rods of iron.(AE)
19 It ranks first among the works of God,(AF)
    yet its Maker(AG) can approach it with his sword.(AH)
20 The hills bring it their produce,(AI)
    and all the wild animals play(AJ) nearby.(AK)
21 Under the lotus plants it lies,
    hidden among the reeds(AL) in the marsh.(AM)
22 The lotuses conceal it in their shadow;
    the poplars by the stream(AN) surround it.
23 A raging river(AO) does not alarm it;
    it is secure, though the Jordan(AP) should surge against its mouth.
24 Can anyone capture it by the eyes,
    or trap it and pierce its nose?(AQ)

40 Moreover the Lord answered Job, and said,

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

Then Job answered the Lord, and said,

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

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

Then answered the Lord unto Job out of the whirlwind, and said,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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