Add parallel Print Page Options

Job Places His Hand over His Mouth

40 Then Yahweh answered Job and said,

“Will the faultfinder (A)contend with the Almighty?
Let him who (B)reproves God answer it.”

Then Job answered Yahweh and said,

“Behold, I am insignificant; what can I respond to You?
I (C)place my hand over my mouth.
Once I have spoken, and (D)I will not answer;
Even twice, and I will add nothing more.”

Yahweh Will Ask Job

Then (E)Yahweh answered Job out of the [a]whirlwind and said,

“Now (F)gird up your loins like a man;
I will (G)ask you, and you make Me know.
Will you really (H)annul My judgment?
Will you (I)condemn Me (J)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 exaltation and loftiness,
And clothe yourself with splendor and majesty.
11 Pour out (M)the overflowings of your anger,
And look on everyone who is (N)proud, and make him low.
12 Look on everyone who is proud, and (O)humble him,
And (P)tread down the wicked [b]in their place.
13 (Q)Hide them in the dust together;
Bind their faces in the hidden place.
14 Then I will also praise you,
That your own right hand can save you.

Behold the Behemoth

15 “Behold now, [c]Behemoth, which (R)I made along with you;
It eats grass like an ox.
16 Behold now, its power in its loins
And its vigor in the muscles of its belly.
17 It hangs its tail like a cedar;
The sinews of its thighs are knit together.
18 Its bones are tubes of bronze;
Its [d]limbs are like bars of iron.

19 “It is the (S)first of the ways of God;
Let its (T)Maker bring near its sword.
20 Surely the mountains (U)bring it food,
And all the beasts of the field (V)play there.
21 Under the lotus plants it lies down,
In the hidden place of the reeds and the marsh.
22 The lotus plants cover it with [e]shade;
The willows of the brook surround it.
23 If a river oppresses, it is not alarmed;
It is secure, though the (W)Jordan bursts forth to its mouth.
24 Can anyone capture it before its eyes,
With snares can anyone pierce its nose?

Footnotes

  1. Job 40:6 Or storm
  2. Job 40:12 Lit under them
  3. Job 40:15 Possibly the hippopotamus
  4. Job 40:18 Lit bones
  5. Job 40:22 Lit his shade

The Lord speaks and Job answers

40 The Lord continued to respond to Job:

Will the one who disputes with the Almighty correct him?
    God’s instructor must answer him.
Job responded to the Lord:
Look, I’m of little worth. What can I answer you?
    I’ll put my hand over my mouth.
I have spoken once, I won’t answer;
    twice, I won’t do it again.

A challenge from the Lord

The Lord answered Job from the whirlwind:
Prepare yourself like a man;
    I will interrogate you, and you will respond to me.
Would you question my justice,
    deem me guilty so you can be innocent?
Or do you have an arm like God;
    can you thunder with a voice like him?
10 Adorn yourself with splendor and majesty;
    clothe yourself with honor and esteem.
11 Unleash your raging anger;
    look on all the proud and humble them.
12 Look on all the proud and debase them;
    trample the wicked in their place.
13 Hide them together in the dust;
    bind their faces in a hidden place.
14 Then I, even I, will praise you,
    for your strong hand has delivered you.

Behemoth

15 Look at Behemoth, whom I made along with you;
    he eats grass like cattle.
16 Look, his strength is in his thighs,
    his power in stomach muscles.
17 He stiffens his tail like a cedar;
    the tendons in his thighs are tightly woven.
18 His bones are like bronze tubes,
    his limbs like iron bars.
19 He is the first of God’s acts;
    only his maker can come near him with a sword.
20 Indeed, the hills bring him tribute,
    places where all the wild animals play.
21 He lies under the lotuses,
    under the cover of reed and marsh.
22 The lotuses screen him with shade;
    poplars of the stream surround him.
23 If the river surges, he doesn’t hurry;
    he is confident even though the Jordan gushes into his mouth.
24 Can he be seized by his eyes?
    Can anyone pierce his nose by hooks?