Job Says What Can I Say?

40 Then the Lord said to Job,

“Will the faultfinder (A)contend with the Almighty?
Let him who (B)rebukes God [a]give an answer.”

Then Job answered the Lord and said,

“Behold, I am insignificant; what can I say in response to You?
I (C)put my hand on my mouth.
I have spoken once, and (D)I will not reply;
Or twice, and I will add nothing more.”

God Questions Job

Then the (E)Lord answered Job from the whirlwind and said,

“Now [b](F)tighten the belt on your waist like a man;
I will (G)ask you, and you instruct Me.
Will you really (H)nullify My judgment?
Will you (I)condemn Me (J)so that you may be justified?
Or do you have an arm like God,
And can you (K)thunder with a voice like His?

10 (L)Adorn yourself with pride and dignity,
And clothe yourself with honor and majesty.
11 Let out your (M)outbursts of anger,
And look at everyone who is (N)arrogant, and humble him.
12 Look at everyone who is arrogant, and (O)humble him,
And (P)trample down the wicked [c]where they stand.
13 (Q)Hide them together in the dust;
Imprison [d]them in the hidden place.
14 Then I will also [e]confess to you,
That your own right hand can save you.

God’s Power Shown in Creatures

15 “Behold, [f]Behemoth, which (R)I made [g]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 [h]limbs are like bars of iron.

19 “He is the (S)first of the ways of God;
Let his (T)Maker bring His sword near.
20 Indeed the [i]mountains (U)bring him food,
And all the animals of the field (V)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 [j]shade;
The willows of the brook surround him.
23 If a river [k]rages, he is not alarmed;
He is confident, though the (W)Jordan rushes to his mouth.
24 Can anyone capture him [l]when he is on watch,
Can anyone pierce his nose with barbs?

Footnotes

  1. Job 40:2 Lit answer it
  2. Job 40:7 I.e., as if for battle
  3. Job 40:12 Lit under them
  4. Job 40:13 Lit their faces
  5. Job 40:14 Or praise you
  6. Job 40:15 I.e., a powerful animal, possibly a hippopotamus
  7. Job 40:15 Lit with you
  8. Job 40:18 Lit bones
  9. Job 40:20 I.e., the mountain streams
  10. Job 40:22 Lit his shade
  11. Job 40:23 Or oppresses
  12. Job 40:24 Lit in his eyes

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.