Add parallel Print Page Options

Can You Draw Out Leviathan?

41 [a]Can you draw out [b](A)Leviathan with a fishhook?
Or press down its tongue with a cord?
Can you (B)put a [c]rope in its nose
Or pierce its jaw with a [d]hook?
Will it make many supplications to you,
Or will he speak to you soft words?
Will it cut a covenant with you?
Will you take it for a slave forever?
Will you play with it as with a bird,
Or will you bind it for your young women?
Will the [e]traders bargain over it?
Will they divide it among the merchants?
Can you fill its skin with harpoons,
Or its head with fishing spears?
Place your hand on it;
Remember the battle; [f]you will not do that again!
[g]Behold, [h]his expectation is a lie;
Will [i]he be laid low even at the sight of it?
10 No one is so fierce that he dares to (C)arouse it;
Who then is he that can stand before Me?
11 Who has [j](D)given to Me that I should repay him?
Whatever is (E)under the whole heaven is Mine.

12 “I will not keep silence concerning its limbs,
Or its mighty strength or its graceful frame.
13 Who can [k]strip off its [l]outer armor?
Who can come with its doubled [m]bridle?
14 Who can open the doors of its face?
Around its teeth there is dreadful terror.
15 Its [n]strong scales are its pride,
Shut up as with a tight seal.
16 One is so near to another
That no air can come between them.
17 They cling one to another;
They are interlocked and cannot be separated.
18 Its sneezes flash forth light,
And its eyes are like the (F)eyelids of the morning.
19 Out of its mouth go burning torches;
Sparks of fire [o]leap forth.
20 Out of its nostrils smoke goes forth
As from a boiling pot and burning reeds.
21 Its breath kindles coals,
And a flame goes forth from its mouth.
22 In its neck lodges strength,
And dismay leaps before it.
23 The folds of its flesh cling together,
Hardened upon it and is not shaken.
24 Its heart is as hard as a stone,
Even as hard as a lower millstone.
25 When it raises itself up, the [p]mighty fear,
Because of the crashing they are [q]bewildered.
26 The sword that reaches it cannot avail,
Nor the spear, the dart, or the javelin.
27 It regards iron as straw,
Bronze as rotten wood.
28 The [r]arrow cannot make it flee;
Slingstones are turned into stubble for it.
29 Clubs are regarded as stubble;
It laughs at the rattling of the javelin.
30 Its underparts are like sharp potsherds;
It [s]spreads out like a threshing sledge on the mire.
31 It makes the depths boil like a pot;
It makes the sea like a jar of ointment.
32 Behind it, it makes a wake to shine;
One would think the deep to be gray-haired.
33 (G)There is nothing upon the [t]dust like it,
One made without terror.
34 [u]It looks on everything that is high;
It is king over all the (H)sons of pride.”

Footnotes

  1. Job 41:1 Ch 40:25 in Heb
  2. Job 41:1 Possibly the crocodile
  3. Job 41:2 Lit rope of rushes
  4. Job 41:2 Or thorn, ring
  5. Job 41:6 Lit partners
  6. Job 41:8 Lit do not add
  7. Job 41:9 Ch 41:1 in Heb
  8. Job 41:9 Job’s
  9. Job 41:9 Job
  10. Job 41:11 Lit anticipated
  11. Job 41:13 Lit uncover the face of its garment
  12. Job 41:13 Lit clothing
  13. Job 41:13 Gr mail
  14. Job 41:15 Lit rows of shields
  15. Job 41:19 Lit escape
  16. Job 41:25 Or gods
  17. Job 41:25 Lit as if in sin
  18. Job 41:28 Lit son of the bow
  19. Job 41:30 Or moves across
  20. Job 41:33 Or earth
  21. Job 41:34 Ch 41:26 in Heb

God’s Power in the Leviathan

41 “Can you draw out (A)Leviathan[a] with a hook,
Or snare his tongue with a line which you lower?
Can you (B)put a reed through his nose,
Or pierce his jaw with a [b]hook?
Will he make many supplications to you?
Will he speak softly to you?
Will he make a covenant with you?
Will you take him as a servant forever?
Will you play with him as with a bird,
Or will you leash him for your maidens?
Will your companions [c]make a banquet of him?
Will they apportion him among the merchants?
Can you fill his skin with harpoons,
Or his head with fishing spears?
Lay your hand on him;
Remember the battle—
Never do it again!
Indeed, any hope of overcoming him is false;
Shall one not be overwhelmed at the sight of him?
10 No one is so fierce that he would dare stir him up.
Who then is able to stand against Me?
11 (C)Who has preceded Me, that I should pay him?
(D)Everything under heaven is Mine.

12 “I will not [d]conceal his limbs,
His mighty power, or his graceful proportions.
13 Who can [e]remove his outer coat?
Who can approach him with a double bridle?
14 Who can open the doors of his face,
With his terrible teeth all around?
15 His rows of [f]scales are his pride,
Shut up tightly as with a seal;
16 One is so near another
That no air can come between them;
17 They are joined one to another,
They stick together and cannot be parted.
18 His sneezings flash forth light,
And his eyes are like the eyelids of the morning.
19 Out of his mouth go burning lights;
Sparks of fire shoot out.
20 Smoke goes out of his nostrils,
As from a boiling pot and burning rushes.
21 His breath kindles coals,
And a flame goes out of his mouth.
22 Strength dwells in his neck,
And [g]sorrow dances before him.
23 The folds of his flesh are joined together;
They are firm on him and cannot be moved.
24 His heart is as hard as stone,
Even as hard as the lower millstone.
25 When he raises himself up, the mighty are afraid;
Because of his crashings they [h]are beside themselves.
26 Though the sword reaches him, it cannot avail;
Nor does spear, dart, or javelin.
27 He regards iron as straw,
And bronze as rotten wood.
28 The arrow cannot make him flee;
Slingstones become like stubble to him.
29 Darts are regarded as straw;
He laughs at the threat of javelins.
30 His undersides are like sharp potsherds;
He spreads pointed marks in the mire.
31 He makes the deep boil like a pot;
He makes the sea like a pot of ointment.
32 He leaves a shining wake behind him;
One would think the deep had white hair.
33 On earth there is nothing like him,
Which is made without fear.
34 He beholds every high thing;
He is king over all the children of pride.”

Footnotes

  1. Job 41:1 A large sea creature, exact identity unknown
  2. Job 41:2 thorn
  3. Job 41:6 Or bargain over him
  4. Job 41:12 Lit. keep silent about
  5. Job 41:13 Lit. take off the face of his garment
  6. Job 41:15 Lit. shields
  7. Job 41:22 despair
  8. Job 41:25 Or purify themselves