Job 40
New American Standard Bible
Job Says What Can I Say?
40 Then the Lord said to Job,
3 Then Job answered the Lord and said,
4 “Behold, I am insignificant; what can I say in response to You?
I (C)put my hand on my mouth.
5 I have spoken once, and (D)I will not reply;
Or twice, and I will add nothing more.”
God Questions Job
6 Then the (E)Lord answered Job from the whirlwind and said,
7 “Now [b](F)tighten the belt on your waist like a man;
I will (G)ask you, and you instruct Me.
8 Will you really (H)nullify My judgment?
Will you (I)condemn Me (J)so that you may be justified?
9 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
- Job 40:2 Lit answer it
- Job 40:7 I.e., as if for battle
- Job 40:12 Lit under them
- Job 40:13 Lit their faces
- Job 40:14 Or praise you
- Job 40:15 I.e., a powerful animal, possibly a hippopotamus
- Job 40:15 Lit with you
- Job 40:18 Lit bones
- Job 40:20 I.e., the mountain streams
- Job 40:22 Lit his shade
- Job 40:23 Or oppresses
- Job 40:24 Lit in his eyes
Job 40
Christian Standard Bible
40 The Lord answered Job:
2 Will the one who contends with the Almighty correct him?
Let him who argues with God give an answer.[a]
3 Then Job answered the Lord:
4 I am so insignificant. How can I answer you?(A)
I place my hand over my mouth.
5 I have spoken once, and I will not reply;
twice, but now I can add nothing.(B)
6 Then the Lord answered Job from the whirlwind:(C)
7 Get ready to answer me like a man;
when I question(D) you, you will inform me.
8 Would you really challenge my justice?
Would you declare me guilty(E) to justify yourself?(F)
9 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?
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