Job 40:6–41:9

⁶Then out of the storm the Lord spoke to Job once again.

⁷Stand up straight now,

and answer my questions.

⁸Are you trying to prove that I am unjust—

to put me in the wrong and yourself in the right?

⁹Are you as strong as I am?

Can your voice thunder as loud as mine?

¹⁰If so, stand up in your honour and pride;

clothe yourself with majesty and glory.

¹¹Look at those who are proud;

pour out your anger and humble them.

¹²Yes, look at them and bring them down;

crush the wicked where they stand.

¹³Bury them all in the ground;

bind them in the world of the dead.

¹⁴Then I will be the first to praise you

and admit that you won the victory yourself.

¹⁵Look at the monster Behemoth;^w

I created him and I created you.

He eats grass like a cow,

¹⁶but what strength there is in his body,

and what power there is in his muscles!

¹⁷His tail stands up like a cedar,

and the muscles in his legs are strong.

¹⁸His bones are as strong as bronze,

and his legs are like iron bars.

¹⁹The most amazing of all my creatures!

Only his Creator can defeat him.

²⁰Grass to feed him grows

on the hills where wild beasts play.^x

²¹He lies down under the thorn bushes,

and hides among the reeds in the swamp.

²²The thorn bushes and the willows by the stream

give him shelter in their shade.

²³He is not afraid of a rushing river;

he is calm when the Jordan dashes in his face.

²⁴Who can blind his eyes and capture him?

Or who can catch his snout in a trap?

41^*Can you catch Leviathan^y with a fish-hook

or tie his tongue down with a rope?

²Can you put a rope through his snout

or put a hook through his jaws?

³Will he beg you to let him go?

Will he plead with you for mercy?

⁴Will he make an agreement with you

and promise to serve you for ever?

⁵Will you tie him up like a pet bird,

like something to amuse your servant women?

⁶Will fishermen bargain over him?

Will merchants cut him up to sell?

⁷Can you fill his hide with fishing spears

or pierce his head with a harpoon?

⁸Touch him once and

you’ll never try it again; you’ll never forget the fight!

⁹Anyone who sees Leviathan

loses courage and falls to the ground.