² “Shall a faultfinder contend with the Almighty?^[a]
    Anyone who argues with God must respond.”^(A)

⁴ “See, I am of small account; what shall I answer you?
    I lay my hand on my mouth.^(B)
5 I have spoken once, and I will not answer,
    twice but will proceed no further.”^(C)

⁷ “Gird up your loins like a man;
    I will question you, and you declare to me.^(E)
8 Will you even put me in the wrong?
    Will you condemn me that you may be justified?^(F)
9 Have you an arm like God,
    and can you thunder with a voice like his?^(G)

¹⁰ “Deck yourself with majesty and dignity;
    clothe yourself with glory and splendor.^(H)
11 Pour out the overflowings of your anger,
    and look on all who are proud and humble them.^(I)
12 Look on all who are proud and bring them low;
    tread down the wicked where they stand.^(J)
13 Hide them all in the dust together;
    bind their faces in the world below.^[b]
14 Then I will also acknowledge to you
    that your own right hand can give you victory.^(K)

¹⁵ “Look at Behemoth,
    which I made just as I made you;
    it eats grass like an ox.^(L)
16 Its strength is in its loins
    and its power in the muscles of its belly.
¹⁷ It makes its tail stiff like a cedar;
    the sinews of its thighs are knit together.
¹⁸ Its bones are tubes of bronze,
    its limbs like bars of iron.

¹⁹ “It is the first of the great acts of God;
    only its Maker can approach it with the sword.^(M)
20 For the mountains yield food for it
    where all the wild animals play.^(N)
21 Under the lotus plants it lies,
    in the covert of the reeds and in the marsh.
²² The lotus trees cover it for shade;
    the willows of the wadi surround it.^(O)
23 Even if the river is turbulent, it is not frightened;
    it is confident though Jordan rushes against its mouth.
²⁴ Can one take it with hooks^[c]
    or pierce its nose with a snare?^(P)