Job 40 (English Standard Version)

Job 40

 ¹And the LORD^(A) said to Job:
 ²"Shall a faultfinder^(B) contend with the Almighty?
   He who argues with God, let him answer it."

Job Promises Silence

 ³Then Job answered the LORD and said:
 ⁴"Behold, I am^(C) of small account; what shall I answer you?
   ^(D) I lay my hand on my mouth.
⁵I have spoken^(E) once, and I will not answer;
   twice, but I will proceed no further."

The LORD Challenges Job

 ⁶Then the LORD^(F) answered Job out of the whirlwind and said:
 ^7(G) "Dress for action^[a] like a man;
   ^(H) I will question you, and you make it known to me.
⁸Will you even put me in the wrong?
   Will you condemn me that^(I) you may be in the right?
⁹Have you^(J) an arm like God,
   and can you thunder with^(K) a voice like his?

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

 ¹⁵"Behold, Behemoth,^[c]
   which I made as I made you;
   he eats^(S) grass like an ox.
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^(T) the first of^(U) the works^[d] of God;
   let him who made him bring near his sword!
²⁰For the mountains yield food for him
   where all the wild beasts play.
²¹Under the lotus plants he lies,
   in the shelter of^(V) the reeds and in the marsh.
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,^[e]
   or pierce his nose with a snare?