God’s Power Shown in Creatures

15 “Behold, [a]Behemoth, which (A)I made [b]as well as you;
He eats grass like an ox.
16 Behold, his strength in his waist,
And his power in the muscles of his belly.
17 He hangs his tail like a cedar;
The tendons of his thighs are knit together.
18 His bones are tubes of bronze;
His [c]limbs are like bars of iron.

19 “He is the (B)first of the ways of God;
Let his (C)Maker bring His sword near.
20 Indeed the [d]mountains (D)bring him food,
And all the animals of the field (E)play there.
21 He lies down under the lotus plants,
In the hiding place of the reeds and the marsh.
22 The lotus plants cover him with [e]shade;
The willows of the brook surround him.
23 If a river [f]rages, he is not alarmed;
He is confident, though the (F)Jordan rushes to his mouth.
24 Can anyone capture him [g]when he is on watch,
Can anyone pierce his nose with barbs?

God’s Power Shown in Creatures

41 [h]Can you drag out [i](G)Leviathan with a fishhook,
And press down his tongue with a rope?
Can you (H)put a [j]rope in his nose,
And pierce his jaw with a [k]hook?
Will he make many pleas to you,
Or will he speak to you gentle words?
Will he make a covenant with you?
Will you take him as a servant forever?
Will you play with him as with a bird,
And tie him down for your young girls?
Will the [l]traders bargain for him?
Will they divide him among the merchants?
Can you fill his skin with harpoons,
Or his head with fishing spears?
Lay your hand on him.
Remember the battle; [m]you will not do it again!
[n]Behold, [o]your expectation is false;
Will [p]you be hurled down even at the sight of him?
10 No one is so reckless that he dares to (I)stir him;
Who then is he who opposes Me?
11 Who has (J)been first to give to Me, that I should repay him?
Whatever is (K)under the entire heaven is Mine.

Footnotes

  1. Job 40:15 I.e., a powerful animal, possibly a hippopotamus
  2. Job 40:15 Lit with you
  3. Job 40:18 Lit bones
  4. Job 40:20 I.e., the mountain streams
  5. Job 40:22 Lit his shade
  6. Job 40:23 Or oppresses
  7. Job 40:24 Lit in his eyes
  8. Job 41:1 Ch 40:25 in Heb
  9. Job 41:1 I.e., a sea monster or crocodile
  10. Job 41:2 Lit rope of rushes
  11. Job 41:2 Or thorn; or ring
  12. Job 41:6 Lit partners
  13. Job 41:8 Lit do not add
  14. Job 41:9 Ch 41:1 in Heb
  15. Job 41:9 Lit his
  16. Job 41:9 Lit he

15 “Look at Behemoth,
    which I made(A) along with you
    and which feeds on grass like an ox.(B)
16 What strength(C) it has in its loins,
    what power in the muscles of its belly!(D)
17 Its tail sways like a cedar;
    the sinews of its thighs are close-knit.(E)
18 Its bones are tubes of bronze,
    its limbs(F) like rods of iron.(G)
19 It ranks first among the works of God,(H)
    yet its Maker(I) can approach it with his sword.(J)
20 The hills bring it their produce,(K)
    and all the wild animals play(L) nearby.(M)
21 Under the lotus plants it lies,
    hidden among the reeds(N) in the marsh.(O)
22 The lotuses conceal it in their shadow;
    the poplars by the stream(P) surround it.
23 A raging river(Q) does not alarm it;
    it is secure, though the Jordan(R) should surge against its mouth.
24 Can anyone capture it by the eyes,
    or trap it and pierce its nose?(S)

41 [a]“Can you pull in Leviathan(T) with a fishhook(U)
    or tie down its tongue with a rope?
Can you put a cord through its nose(V)
    or pierce its jaw with a hook?(W)
Will it keep begging you for mercy?(X)
    Will it speak to you with gentle words?
Will it make an agreement with you
    for you to take it as your slave for life?(Y)
Can you make a pet of it like a bird
    or put it on a leash for the young women in your house?
Will traders barter for it?
    Will they divide it up among the merchants?
Can you fill its hide with harpoons
    or its head with fishing spears?(Z)
If you lay a hand on it,
    you will remember the struggle and never do it again!(AA)
Any hope of subduing it is false;
    the mere sight of it is overpowering.(AB)
10 No one is fierce enough to rouse it.(AC)
    Who then is able to stand against me?(AD)
11 Who has a claim against me that I must pay?(AE)
    Everything under heaven belongs to me.(AF)

Footnotes

  1. Job 41:1 In Hebrew texts 41:1-8 is numbered 40:25-32, and 41:9-34 is numbered 41:1-26.