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40 Moreover Yahweh answered Job,

“Shall he who argues contend with the Almighty?
    He who argues with God, let him answer it.”

Then Job answered Yahweh,

“Behold, I am of small account. What will I answer you?
    I lay my hand on my mouth.
I have spoken once, and I will not answer;
    Yes, twice, but I will proceed no further.”

Then Yahweh answered Job out of the whirlwind,

“Now brace yourself like a man.
    I will question you, and you will answer me.
Will you even annul my judgment?
    Will you condemn me, that you may be justified?
Or do you have an arm like God?
    Can you thunder with a voice like him?

10 “Now deck yourself with excellency and dignity.
    Array yourself with honor and majesty.
11 Pour out the fury of your anger.
    Look at everyone who is proud, and bring him low.
12 Look at everyone who is proud, and humble him.
    Crush the wicked in their place.
13 Hide them in the dust together.
    Bind their faces in the hidden place.
14 Then I will also admit to you
    that your own right hand can save you.

15 “See now, behemoth, which I made as well as you.
    He eats grass as an ox.
16 Look now, his strength is in his thighs.
    His force is in the muscles of his belly.
17 He moves his tail like a cedar.
    The sinews of his thighs are knit together.
18 His bones are like tubes of bronze.
    His limbs are like bars of iron.

19 He is the chief of the ways of God.
    He who made him gives him his sword.
20 Surely the mountains produce food for him,
    where all the animals of the field play.
21 He lies under the lotus trees,
    in the covert of the reed, and the marsh.
22 The lotuses cover him with their shade.
    The willows of the brook surround him.
23 Behold, if a river overflows, he doesn’t tremble.
    He is confident, though the Jordan swells even to his mouth.
24 Shall any take him when he is on the watch,
    or pierce through his nose with a snare?

40 Moreover, the Lord answered Job and said:

“Will he who argues with the Almighty instruct Him?
    He who rebukes God, let him answer it.”

Job Replies to the Lord

Then Job answered the Lord and said:

“Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer You?
    I will lay my hand over my mouth.
Once have I spoken, but I will not answer;
    yes, twice, but I will proceed no further.”

The Lord Challenges Job

Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind and said:

“Prepare yourself now like a man;
    I will question you,
    and you will answer Me.

“Will you indeed annul My judgment?
    Will you condemn Me, that you may be righteous?
Have you an arm like God?
    Or can you thunder with a voice like Him?
10 Adorn yourself now with majesty and excellence,
    and array yourself with glory and beauty.
11 Let loose the rage of your wrath,
    and look on every one who is proud and abase him;
12 look on every one who is proud and bring him low,
    and tread down the wicked in their place.
13 Hide them in the dust together,
    and imprison them in the hidden place of the grave.
14 Then I will also confess to you
    that your own right hand can save you.

15 “Look now at the 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 the muscles of his belly.
17 He moves his tail like a cedar;
    the sinews of his thighs are wrapped together.
18 His bones are like strong pieces of brass;
    his bones are like bars of iron.
19 He is the first of the works of God;
    He who made him can bring near His sword.
20 Surely the mountains bring forth food for him,
    where all the beasts of the field play.
21 He lies under the shady trees,
    in the thicket of the reed and marsh.
22 The shady trees cover him with their shadow;
    the willows of the brook surround him.
23 Look, the river rages, but he is not alarmed;
    he trusts that he can draw up the Jordan into his mouth.
24 Can anyone catch it by its eyes,
    or pierce its nose with a snare?