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40 主はさらに続けました。

「おまえはまだ全能者と口論したいか。
それとも降参するか。
神を批判する者よ、答えてみよ。」

ヨブは主に答えました。

「私は何の値打ちもない者です。
どうして答えることができましょう。
口に手をあてて黙り込むだけです。
私は語りすぎました。」

主は再びつむじ風の中から、ヨブに語りかけました。

「さあ、男らしく立ち上がり、
戦いに備えて身を引き締めなさい。
そして、わたしの質問に答えるのだ。
おまえは自分の正しさを主張しようとして、
わたしのさばきを信用せず、
わたしを罪人呼ばわりするのか。
おまえは神のように強く、
神のような大声で雷鳴をとどろかせることができるか。
10 そうだとしたら、
おまえの尊厳と威光を身にまとえばよい。
11 おまえの怒りを吐き出し、
思い上がった者の上にまき散らすのだ。
12 横柄な者をひと目でへりくだらせ、
悪者をその場で踏みにじれ。
13 彼らをちりの中に沈め、死者の牢獄につなげ。
14 それができたら、自分の力で自分を救えると
おまえが言っていることを正しいと認めよう。
15 河馬を見よ。
わたしはおまえを造ったように、河馬も造った。
河馬は牛のように草を食べる。
16 がっしりした腰と腹の筋肉を見よ。
17 尾は杉のようにたれ、
ももの筋はしっかり編み合わせてある。
18 背骨は真鍮の管のようにまっすぐ伸び、
肋骨は鉄の棒のようだ。
19 河馬は、わたしが造ったものの中でも
飛びきり凶暴だ。
河馬を手なずけたいと思ったら、鋭い剣が必要だ。
20 山々は最高の食べ物をそれに差し出す。
河馬は山々の野獣を餌として食べる。
21 河馬は葦の茂みに隠れた蓮の下に横たわる。
22 蓮がこれを覆い、川のほとりの柳がこれを囲む。
23 河馬は川が荒れ狂っても騒がず、
水嵩の増したヨルダン川が押しかぶさっても動じない。
24 だれも、不意に襲って捕まえることができない。
鼻に輪をつけ、引きずることもできない。

40 The Lord said to Job:(A)

“Will the one who contends with the Almighty(B) correct him?(C)
    Let him who accuses God answer him!”(D)

Then Job answered the Lord:

“I am unworthy(E)—how can I reply to you?
    I put my hand over my mouth.(F)
I spoke once, but I have no answer(G)
    twice, but I will say no more.”(H)

Then the Lord spoke to Job out of the storm:(I)

“Brace yourself like a man;
    I will question you,
    and you shall answer me.(J)

“Would you discredit my justice?(K)
    Would you condemn me to justify yourself?(L)
Do you have an arm like God’s,(M)
    and can your voice(N) thunder like his?(O)
10 Then adorn yourself with glory and splendor,
    and clothe yourself in honor and majesty.(P)
11 Unleash the fury of your wrath,(Q)
    look at all who are proud and bring them low,(R)
12 look at all who are proud(S) and humble them,(T)
    crush(U) the wicked where they stand.
13 Bury them all in the dust together;(V)
    shroud their faces in the grave.(W)
14 Then I myself will admit to you
    that your own right hand can save you.(X)

15 “Look at Behemoth,
    which I made(Y) along with you
    and which feeds on grass like an ox.(Z)
16 What strength(AA) it has in its loins,
    what power in the muscles of its belly!(AB)
17 Its tail sways like a cedar;
    the sinews of its thighs are close-knit.(AC)
18 Its bones are tubes of bronze,
    its limbs(AD) like rods of iron.(AE)
19 It ranks first among the works of God,(AF)
    yet its Maker(AG) can approach it with his sword.(AH)
20 The hills bring it their produce,(AI)
    and all the wild animals play(AJ) nearby.(AK)
21 Under the lotus plants it lies,
    hidden among the reeds(AL) in the marsh.(AM)
22 The lotuses conceal it in their shadow;
    the poplars by the stream(AN) surround it.
23 A raging river(AO) does not alarm it;
    it is secure, though the Jordan(AP) should surge against its mouth.
24 Can anyone capture it by the eyes,
    or trap it and pierce its nose?(AQ)

God’s Power and Wisdom

40 Moreover the Lord (A)answered Job, and said:

“Shall (B)the one who contends with the Almighty correct Him?
He who (C)rebukes God, let him answer it.”

Job’s Response to God

Then Job answered the Lord and said:

“Behold,(D) I am vile;
What shall I answer You?
(E)I lay my hand over my mouth.
Once I have spoken, but I will not answer;
Yes, twice, but I will proceed no further.”

God’s Challenge to Job

(F)Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said:

“Now(G) [a]prepare yourself like a man;
(H)I will question you, and you shall answer Me:

“Would(I) you indeed [b]annul My judgment?
Would you condemn Me that you may be justified?
Have you an arm like God?
Or can you thunder with (J)a voice like His?
10 (K)Then adorn yourself with majesty and splendor,
And array yourself with glory and beauty.
11 Disperse the rage of your wrath;
Look on everyone who is proud, and humble him.
12 Look on everyone who is (L)proud, and bring him low;
Tread down the wicked in their place.
13 Hide them in the dust together,
Bind their faces in hidden darkness.
14 Then I will also confess to you
That your own right hand can save you.

15 “Look now at the [c]behemoth, which I made along with you;
He eats grass like an ox.
16 See now, his strength is in his hips,
And his power is in his stomach muscles.
17 He moves his tail like a cedar;
The sinews of his thighs are tightly knit.
18 His bones are like beams of bronze,
His ribs like bars of iron.
19 He is the first of the (M)ways of God;
Only He who made him can bring near His sword.
20 Surely the mountains (N)yield food for him,
And all the beasts of the field play there.
21 He lies under the lotus trees,
In a covert of reeds and marsh.
22 The lotus trees cover him with their shade;
The willows by the brook surround him.
23 Indeed the river may rage,
Yet he is not disturbed;
He is confident, though the Jordan gushes into his mouth,
24 Though he takes it in his eyes,
Or one pierces his nose with a snare.

Footnotes

  1. Job 40:7 Lit. gird up your loins
  2. Job 40:8 nullify
  3. Job 40:15 A large animal, exact identity unknown