40 And the Lord (A)said to Job:

“Shall a faultfinder (B)contend with the Almighty?
    He who argues with God, let him answer it.”

Job Promises Silence

Then Job answered the Lord and said:

“Behold, I am (C)of small account; what shall I answer you?
    (D)I lay my hand on my mouth.
I have spoken (E)once, and I will not answer;
    (F)twice, but I will proceed no further.”

The Lord Challenges Job

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

(H)“Dress for action[a] like a man;
    (I)I will question you, and you make it known to me.
Will you even put me in the wrong?
    Will you condemn me that (J)you may be in the right?
Have you (K)an arm like God,
    and can you thunder with (L)a voice like his?

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

15 “Behold, Behemoth,[c]
    which I made as I made you;
    he eats (T)grass like an ox.
16 Behold, his strength in his loins,
    and his power in the muscles of his belly.
17 He makes his tail stiff like a cedar;
    the sinews of his thighs are knit together.
18 His bones are tubes of bronze,
    his limbs like bars of iron.

19 “He is (U)the first of (V)the works[d] of God;
    let him who made him bring near his sword!
20 For the mountains yield food for him
    where all the wild beasts play.
21 Under the lotus plants he lies,
    in the shelter of (W)the reeds and in the marsh.
22 For his shade the lotus trees cover him;
    the willows of the brook surround him.
23 Behold, if the river is turbulent he is not frightened;
    he is confident though Jordan rushes against his mouth.
24 Can one take him by his eyes,[e]
    or pierce his nose with a snare?

Footnotes

  1. Job 40:7 Hebrew Gird up your loins
  2. Job 40:13 Hebrew in the hidden place
  3. Job 40:15 A large animal, exact identity unknown
  4. Job 40:19 Hebrew ways
  5. Job 40:24 Or in his sight

40 The Lord answered Job:

Will the one who contends with the Almighty correct him?
Let him who argues with God give an answer.[a]

Then Job answered the Lord:

I am so insignificant. How can I answer you?(A)
I place my hand over my mouth.
I have spoken once, and I will not reply;
twice, but now I can add nothing.(B)

Then the Lord answered Job from the whirlwind:(C)

Get ready to answer me like a man;
when I question(D) you, you will inform me.
Would you really challenge my justice?
Would you declare me guilty(E) to justify yourself?(F)
Do you have an arm like God’s?
Can you thunder with a voice like his?

10 Adorn yourself with majesty(G) and splendor,
and clothe yourself with honor and glory.
11 Pour out your raging anger;(H)
look on every proud person and humiliate him.(I)
12 Look on every proud person and humble him;(J)
trample the wicked where they stand.[b]
13 Hide them together in the dust;
imprison them in the grave.[c]
14 Then I will confess to you
that your own right hand(K) can deliver you.(L)

15 Look at Behemoth,
which I made along with you.
He eats grass like cattle.
16 Look at the strength of his back[d]
and the power in the muscles of his belly.
17 He stiffens his tail like a cedar tree;
the tendons of his thighs are woven firmly together.
18 His bones are bronze tubes;
his limbs are like iron rods.
19 He is the foremost of God’s works;(M)
only his Maker can draw the sword against him.
20 The hills yield food for him,
while all sorts of wild animals play there.
21 He lies under the lotus plants,
hiding in the protection[e] of marshy reeds.
22 Lotus plants cover him with their shade;
the willows by the brook surround him.
23 Though the river rages, Behemoth is unafraid;
he remains confident, even if the Jordan surges up to his mouth.
24 Can anyone capture him while he looks on,[f]
or pierce his nose with snares?

Footnotes

  1. 40:2 Lit God respond to it
  2. 40:12 Lit wicked in their place
  3. 40:13 Lit together; bind their faces in the hidden place
  4. 40:16 Or waist
  5. 40:21 Lit plants, in the hiding place
  6. 40:24 Lit capture it in its eyes