Job 40

1 And the Lord said to Job:

2  "Shall a faultfinder contend with the Almighty?
He who argues with God, let him answer it."

Job Promises Silence

3 Then 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.
5  I have spoken once, and I will not answer;
twice, but I will proceed no further."

The Lord Challenges Job

6 Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind and said:

7  "Dress for actiont like a man;
I will question you, and you make it known to me.
8  Will you even put me in the wrong?
Will you condemn me that you may be in the right?
9  Have you an arm like God,
and can you thunder with a voice like his?

10  "Adorn yourself with majesty and dignity;
clothe yourself with glory and splendor.
11  Pour out the overflowings of your anger,
and look on everyone who is proud and abase him.
12  Look on everyone who is proud and bring him low
and tread down the wicked where they stand.
13  Hide them all in the dust together;
bind their faces in the world below.t
14  Then will I also acknowledge to you
that your own right hand can save you.

15  "Behold, Behemoth,t
which I made as I made you;
he eats grass like an ox.
16  Behold, his strength in his loins,
and his power in the muscles of his belly.
17  He makes his tail stiff like a cedar;
the sinews of his thighs are knit together.
18  His bones are tubes of bronze,
his limbs like bars of iron.

19  "He is the first of the workst of God;
let him who made him bring near his sword!
20  For the mountains yield food for him
where all the wild beasts play.
21  Under the lotus plants he lies,
in the shelter of the reeds and in the marsh.
22  For his shade the lotus trees cover him;
the willows of the brook surround him.
23  Behold, if the river is turbulent he is not frightened;
he is confident though Jordan rushes against his mouth.
24  Can one take him by his eyes,t
or pierce his nose with a snare?

Job 40

Job’s Reply to God’s Challenge

1 Then the Lord answered Job:

2 “Will the one who contendst with the Almighty correct him?t
Let the person who accuses God give him an answer!”

3 Then Job answered the Lord:

4 “Indeed, I am completely unworthyt – how could I reply to you?
I putt my hand over my mouth to silence myself.t

5 I have spoken once, but I cannot answer;
twice, but I will say no more.”t

The Lord’s Second Speech

6 Then the Lord answered Job from the whirlwind:

7 “Get ready for a difficult taskt like a man.
I will question you and you will inform me!

8 Would you indeed annult my justice?
Would you declare me guilty so that you might be right?

9 Do you have an arm as powerful as God’s,t
and can you thunder with a voice like his?

10 Adorn yourself, then, with majesty and excellency,
and clothe yourself with glory and honor!

11 Scatter abroadt the abundancet of your anger.
Look at every proud mant and bring him low;

12 Look at every proud man and abase him;
crush the wicked on the spot!t

13 Hide them in the dustt together,
imprisont themt in the grave.t

14 Then I myself will acknowledget to you
that your own right hand can save you.t

The Description of Behemoth

15 “Look now at Behemoth,s which I made ast I made you;
it eats grass like the ox.

16 Lookt at its strength in its loins,
and its power in the muscles of its belly.

17 It makes its tail stifft like a cedar,
the sinews of its thighs are tightly wound.

18 Its bones are tubes of bronze,
its limbs like bars of iron.

19 It ranks first among the works of God,ts
the One who made it
has furnished it with a sword.s

20 For the hills bring it food,t
where all the wild animals play.

21 Under the lotus trees it lies,
in the secrecy of the reeds and the marsh.

22 The lotus trees conceal it in theirt shadow;
the poplars by the stream conceal it.

23 If the river rages,t it is not disturbed,
it is secure,t though the Jordan
should surge up to its mouth.

24 Can anyone catch it by its eyes,t
or pierce its nose with a snare?t