¹⁷ You who swelter in your clothes
    when the land lies hushed under the south wind,^(A)
18 can you join him in spreading out the skies,^(B)
    hard as a mirror of cast bronze?^(C)

¹⁹ “Tell us what we should say to him;^(D)
    we cannot draw up our case^(E) because of our darkness.^(F)
20 Should he be told that I want to speak?
    Would anyone ask to be swallowed up?
²¹ Now no one can look at the sun,^(G)
    bright as it is in the skies
    after the wind has swept them clean.
²² Out of the north he comes in golden splendor;^(H)
    God comes in awesome majesty.^(I)
23 The Almighty is beyond our reach and exalted in power;^(J)
    in his justice^(K) and great righteousness, he does not oppress.^(L)
24 Therefore, people revere him,^(M)
    for does he not have regard for all the wise^(N) in heart?^[a]”

² “Who is this that obscures my plans^(Q)
    with words without knowledge?^(R)
3 Brace yourself like a man;
    I will question you,
    and you shall answer me.^(S)

⁴ “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?^(T)
    Tell me, if you understand.^(U)
5 Who marked off its dimensions?^(V) Surely you know!
    Who stretched a measuring line^(W) across it?
⁶ On what were its footings set,^(X)
    or who laid its cornerstone^(Y)—
⁷ while the morning stars^(Z) sang together^(AA)
    and all the angels^[b](AB) shouted for joy?^(AC)

⁸ “Who shut up the sea behind doors^(AD)
    when it burst forth from the womb,^(AE)
9 when I made the clouds its garment
    and wrapped it in thick darkness,^(AF)
10 when I fixed limits for it^(AG)
    and set its doors and bars in place,^(AH)
11 when I said, ‘This far you may come and no farther;^(AI)
    here is where your proud waves halt’?^(AJ)

¹² “Have you ever given orders to the morning,^(AK)
    or shown the dawn its place,^(AL)
13 that it might take the earth by the edges
    and shake the wicked^(AM) out of it?^(AN)
14 The earth takes shape like clay under a seal;^(AO)
    its features stand out like those of a garment.
¹⁵ The wicked are denied their light,^(AP)
    and their upraised arm is broken.^(AQ)

¹⁶ “Have you journeyed to the springs of the sea
    or walked in the recesses of the deep?^(AR)
17 Have the gates of death^(AS) been shown to you?
    Have you seen the gates of the deepest darkness?^(AT)
18 Have you comprehended the vast expanses of the earth?^(AU)
    Tell me, if you know all this.^(AV)

¹⁹ “What is the way to the abode of light?
    And where does darkness reside?^(AW)
20 Can you take them to their places?
    Do you know the paths^(AX) to their dwellings?
²¹ Surely you know, for you were already born!^(AY)
    You have lived so many years!

²² “Have you entered the storehouses of the snow^(AZ)
    or seen the storehouses^(BA) of the hail,^(BB)
23 which I reserve for times of trouble,^(BC)
    for days of war and battle?^(BD)
24 What is the way to the place where the lightning is dispersed,^(BE)
    or the place where the east winds^(BF) are scattered over the earth?^(BG)
25 Who cuts a channel for the torrents of rain,
    and a path for the thunderstorm,^(BH)
26 to water^(BI) a land where no one lives,
    an uninhabited desert,^(BJ)
27 to satisfy a desolate wasteland
    and make it sprout with grass?^(BK)
28 Does the rain have a father?^(BL)
    Who fathers the drops of dew?
²⁹ From whose womb comes the ice?
    Who gives birth to the frost from the heavens^(BM)
30 when the waters become hard as stone,
    when the surface of the deep is frozen?^(BN)

³¹ “Can you bind the chains^[c] of the Pleiades?
    Can you loosen Orion’s belt?^(BO)
32 Can you bring forth the constellations^(BP) in their seasons^[d]
    or lead out the Bear^[e] with its cubs?^(BQ)
33 Do you know the laws^(BR) of the heavens?^(BS)
    Can you set up God’s^[f] dominion over the earth?

³⁴ “Can you raise your voice to the clouds
    and cover yourself with a flood of water?^(BT)
35 Do you send the lightning bolts on their way?^(BU)
    Do they report to you, ‘Here we are’?
³⁶ Who gives the ibis wisdom^[g](BV)
    or gives the rooster understanding?^[h](BW)
37 Who has the wisdom to count the clouds?
    Who can tip over the water jars^(BX) of the heavens^(BY)
38 when the dust becomes hard^(BZ)
    and the clods of earth stick together?^(CA)

³⁹ “Do you hunt the prey for the lioness
    and satisfy the hunger of the lions^(CB)
40 when they crouch in their dens^(CC)
    or lie in wait in a thicket?^(CD)
41 Who provides food^(CE) for the raven^(CF)
    when its young cry out to God
    and wander about for lack of food?^(CG)

39 “Do you know when the mountain goats^(CH) give birth?
    Do you watch when the doe bears her fawn?^(CI)
2 Do you count the months till they bear?
    Do you know the time they give birth?^(CJ)
3 They crouch down and bring forth their young;
    their labor pains are ended.
⁴ Their young thrive and grow strong in the wilds;
    they leave and do not return.

⁵ “Who let the wild donkey^(CK) go free?
    Who untied its ropes?
⁶ I gave it the wasteland^(CL) as its home,
    the salt flats^(CM) as its habitat.^(CN)
7 It laughs^(CO) at the commotion in the town;
    it does not hear a driver’s shout.^(CP)
8 It ranges the hills^(CQ) for its pasture
    and searches for any green thing.

⁹ “Will the wild ox^(CR) consent to serve you?^(CS)
    Will it stay by your manger^(CT) at night?
¹⁰ Can you hold it to the furrow with a harness?^(CU)
    Will it till the valleys behind you?
¹¹ Will you rely on it for its great strength?^(CV)
    Will you leave your heavy work to it?
¹² Can you trust it to haul in your grain
    and bring it to your threshing floor?

¹³ “The wings of the ostrich flap joyfully,
    though they cannot compare
    with the wings and feathers of the stork.^(CW)
14 She lays her eggs on the ground
    and lets them warm in the sand,
¹⁵ unmindful that a foot may crush them,
    that some wild animal may trample them.^(CX)
16 She treats her young harshly,^(CY) as if they were not hers;
    she cares not that her labor was in vain,
¹⁷ for God did not endow her with wisdom
    or give her a share of good sense.^(CZ)
18 Yet when she spreads her feathers to run,
    she laughs^(DA) at horse and rider.

¹⁹ “Do you give the horse its strength^(DB)
    or clothe its neck with a flowing mane?
²⁰ Do you make it leap like a locust,^(DC)
    striking terror^(DD) with its proud snorting?^(DE)
21 It paws fiercely, rejoicing in its strength,^(DF)
    and charges into the fray.^(DG)
22 It laughs^(DH) at fear, afraid of nothing;
    it does not shy away from the sword.
²³ The quiver^(DI) rattles against its side,
    along with the flashing spear^(DJ) and lance.
²⁴ In frenzied excitement it eats up the ground;
    it cannot stand still when the trumpet sounds.^(DK)
25 At the blast of the trumpet^(DL) it snorts, ‘Aha!’
    It catches the scent of battle from afar,
    the shout of commanders and the battle cry.^(DM)

²⁶ “Does the hawk take flight by your wisdom
    and spread its wings toward the south?^(DN)
27 Does the eagle soar at your command
    and build its nest on high?^(DO)
28 It dwells on a cliff and stays there at night;
    a rocky crag^(DP) is its stronghold.
²⁹ From there it looks for food;^(DQ)
    its eyes detect it from afar.
³⁰ Its young ones feast on blood,
    and where the slain are, there it is.”^(DR)

² “Will the one who contends with the Almighty^(DT) correct him?^(DU)
    Let him who accuses God answer him!”^(DV)

⁴ “I am unworthy^(DW)—how can I reply to you?
    I put my hand over my mouth.^(DX)
5 I spoke once, but I have no answer^(DY)—
    twice, but I will say no more.”^(DZ)

⁷ “Brace yourself like a man;
    I will question you,
    and you shall answer me.^(EB)

⁸ “Would you discredit my justice?^(EC)
    Would you condemn me to justify yourself?^(ED)
9 Do you have an arm like God’s,^(EE)
    and can your voice^(EF) thunder like his?^(EG)
10 Then adorn yourself with glory and splendor,
    and clothe yourself in honor and majesty.^(EH)
11 Unleash the fury of your wrath,^(EI)
    look at all who are proud and bring them low,^(EJ)
12 look at all who are proud^(EK) and humble them,^(EL)
    crush^(EM) the wicked where they stand.
¹³ Bury them all in the dust together;^(EN)
    shroud their faces in the grave.^(EO)
14 Then I myself will admit to you
    that your own right hand can save you.^(EP)

¹⁵ “Look at Behemoth,
    which I made^(EQ) along with you
    and which feeds on grass like an ox.^(ER)
16 What strength^(ES) it has in its loins,
    what power in the muscles of its belly!^(ET)
17 Its tail sways like a cedar;
    the sinews of its thighs are close-knit.^(EU)
18 Its bones are tubes of bronze,
    its limbs^(EV) like rods of iron.^(EW)
19 It ranks first among the works of God,^(EX)
    yet its Maker^(EY) can approach it with his sword.^(EZ)
20 The hills bring it their produce,^(FA)
    and all the wild animals play^(FB) nearby.^(FC)
21 Under the lotus plants it lies,
    hidden among the reeds^(FD) in the marsh.^(FE)
22 The lotuses conceal it in their shadow;
    the poplars by the stream^(FF) surround it.
²³ A raging river^(FG) does not alarm it;
    it is secure, though the Jordan^(FH) should surge against its mouth.
²⁴ Can anyone capture it by the eyes,
    or trap it and pierce its nose?^(FI)

41 ^[i]“Can you pull in Leviathan^(FJ) with a fishhook^(FK)
    or tie down its tongue with a rope?
² Can you put a cord through its nose^(FL)
    or pierce its jaw with a hook?^(FM)
3 Will it keep begging you for mercy?^(FN)
    Will it speak to you with gentle words?
⁴ Will it make an agreement with you
    for you to take it as your slave for life?^(FO)
5 Can you make a pet of it like a bird
    or put it on a leash for the young women in your house?
⁶ Will traders barter for it?
    Will they divide it up among the merchants?
⁷ Can you fill its hide with harpoons
    or its head with fishing spears?^(FP)
8 If you lay a hand on it,
    you will remember the struggle and never do it again!^(FQ)
9 Any hope of subduing it is false;
    the mere sight of it is overpowering.^(FR)
10 No one is fierce enough to rouse it.^(FS)
    Who then is able to stand against me?^(FT)
11 Who has a claim against me that I must pay?^(FU)
    Everything under heaven belongs to me.^(FV)

¹² “I will not fail to speak of Leviathan’s limbs,^(FW)
    its strength^(FX) and its graceful form.
¹³ Who can strip off its outer coat?
    Who can penetrate its double coat of armor^[j]?^(FY)
14 Who dares open the doors of its mouth,^(FZ)
    ringed about with fearsome teeth?
¹⁵ Its back has^[k] rows of shields
    tightly sealed together;^(GA)
16 each is so close to the next
    that no air can pass between.
¹⁷ They are joined fast to one another;
    they cling together and cannot be parted.
¹⁸ Its snorting throws out flashes of light;
    its eyes are like the rays of dawn.^(GB)
19 Flames^(GC) stream from its mouth;
    sparks of fire shoot out.
²⁰ Smoke pours from its nostrils^(GD)
    as from a boiling pot over burning reeds.
²¹ Its breath^(GE) sets coals ablaze,
    and flames dart from its mouth.^(GF)
22 Strength^(GG) resides in its neck;
    dismay goes before it.
²³ The folds of its flesh are tightly joined;
    they are firm and immovable.
²⁴ Its chest is hard as rock,
    hard as a lower millstone.^(GH)
25 When it rises up, the mighty are terrified;^(GI)
    they retreat before its thrashing.^(GJ)
26 The sword that reaches it has no effect,
    nor does the spear or the dart or the javelin.^(GK)
27 Iron it treats like straw^(GL)
    and bronze like rotten wood.
²⁸ Arrows do not make it flee;^(GM)
    slingstones are like chaff to it.
²⁹ A club seems to it but a piece of straw;^(GN)
    it laughs^(GO) at the rattling of the lance.
³⁰ Its undersides are jagged potsherds,
    leaving a trail in the mud like a threshing sledge.^(GP)
31 It makes the depths churn like a boiling caldron^(GQ)
    and stirs up the sea like a pot of ointment.^(GR)
32 It leaves a glistening wake behind it;
    one would think the deep had white hair.
³³ Nothing on earth is its equal^(GS)—
    a creature without fear.
³⁴ It looks down on all that are haughty;^(GT)
    it is king over all that are proud.^(GU)”

² “I know that you can do all things;^(GV)
    no purpose of yours can be thwarted.^(GW)
3 You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my plans without knowledge?’^(GX)
    Surely I spoke of things I did not understand,
    things too wonderful for me to know.^(GY)

⁴ “You said, ‘Listen now, and I will speak;
    I will question you,
    and you shall answer me.’^(GZ)
5 My ears had heard of you^(HA)
    but now my eyes have seen you.^(HB)
6 Therefore I despise myself^(HC)
    and repent^(HD) in dust and ashes.”^(HE)

⁴ Not so the wicked!
    They are like chaff^(Q)
    that the wind blows away.
⁵ Therefore the wicked will not stand^(R) in the judgment,^(S)
    nor sinners in the assembly^(T) of the righteous.

⁶ For the Lord watches over^(U) the way of the righteous,
    but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.^(V)

⁴ The One enthroned^(AB) in heaven laughs;^(AC)
    the Lord scoffs at them.
⁵ He rebukes them in his anger^(AD)
    and terrifies them in his wrath,^(AE) saying,
⁶ “I have installed my king^(AF)
    on Zion,^(AG) my holy mountain.^(AH)”

He said to me, “You are my son;^(AI)
    today I have become your father.^(AJ)
8 Ask me,
    and I will make the nations^(AK) your inheritance,^(AL)
    the ends of the earth^(AM) your possession.
⁹ You will break them with a rod of iron^[b];^(AN)
    you will dash them to pieces^(AO) like pottery.^(AP)”

¹⁰ Therefore, you kings, be wise;^(AQ)
    be warned, you rulers^(AR) of the earth.
¹¹ Serve the Lord with fear^(AS)
    and celebrate his rule^(AT) with trembling.^(AU)
12 Kiss his son,^(AV) or he will be angry
    and your way will lead to your destruction,
for his wrath^(AW) can flare up in a moment.
    Blessed^(AX) are all who take refuge^(AY) in him.

³ But you, Lord, are a shield^(BB) around me,
    my glory, the One who lifts my head high.^(BC)
4 I call out to the Lord,^(BD)
    and he answers me from his holy mountain.^(BE)

⁵ I lie down and sleep;^(BF)
    I wake again,^(BG) because the Lord sustains me.
⁶ I will not fear^(BH) though tens of thousands
    assail me on every side.^(BI)

⁷ Arise,^(BJ) Lord!
    Deliver me,^(BK) my God!
Strike^(BL) all my enemies on the jaw;
    break the teeth^(BM) of the wicked.

⁸ From the Lord comes deliverance.^(BN)
    May your blessing^(BO) be on your people.

² How long will you people turn my glory^(BT) into shame?^(BU)
    How long will you love delusions and seek false gods^[f]?^[g](BV)
3 Know that the Lord has set apart his faithful servant^(BW) for himself;
    the Lord hears^(BX) when I call to him.

⁴ Tremble and^[h] do not sin;^(BY)
    when you are on your beds,^(BZ)
    search your hearts and be silent.
⁵ Offer the sacrifices of the righteous
    and trust in the Lord.^(CA)

⁶ Many, Lord, are asking, “Who will bring us prosperity?”
    Let the light of your face shine on us.^(CB)
7 Fill my heart^(CC) with joy^(CD)
    when their grain and new wine^(CE) abound.

⁸ In peace^(CF) I will lie down and sleep,^(CG)
    for you alone, Lord,
    make me dwell in safety.^(CH)

³ In the morning,^(CM) Lord, you hear my voice;
    in the morning I lay my requests before you
    and wait expectantly.^(CN)
4 For you are not a God who is pleased with wickedness;
    with you, evil people^(CO) are not welcome.
⁵ The arrogant^(CP) cannot stand^(CQ)
    in your presence.
You hate^(CR) all who do wrong;
⁶     you destroy those who tell lies.^(CS)
The bloodthirsty and deceitful
    you, Lord, detest.
⁷ But I, by your great love,
    can come into your house;
in reverence^(CT) I bow down^(CU)
    toward your holy temple.^(CV)

⁸ Lead me, Lord, in your righteousness^(CW)
    because of my enemies—
    make your way straight^(CX) before me.
⁹ Not a word from their mouth can be trusted;
    their heart is filled with malice.
Their throat is an open grave;^(CY)
    with their tongues they tell lies.^(CZ)
10 Declare them guilty, O God!
    Let their intrigues be their downfall.
Banish them for their many sins,^(DA)
    for they have rebelled^(DB) against you.
¹¹ But let all who take refuge in you be glad;
    let them ever sing for joy.^(DC)
Spread your protection over them,
    that those who love your name^(DD) may rejoice in you.^(DE)

¹² Surely, Lord, you bless the righteous;^(DF)
    you surround them^(DG) with your favor as with a shield.^(DH)

⁴ Turn,^(DP) Lord, and deliver me;
    save me because of your unfailing love.^(DQ)
5 Among the dead no one proclaims your name.
    Who praises you from the grave?^(DR)

⁶ I am worn out^(DS) from my groaning.^(DT)

All night long I flood my bed with weeping^(DU)
    and drench my couch with tears.^(DV)
7 My eyes grow weak^(DW) with sorrow;
    they fail because of all my foes.

⁸ Away from me,^(DX) all you who do evil,^(DY)
    for the Lord has heard my weeping.
⁹ The Lord has heard my cry for mercy;^(DZ)
    the Lord accepts my prayer.
¹⁰ All my enemies will be overwhelmed with shame and anguish;^(EA)
    they will turn back and suddenly be put to shame.^(EB)

³ Lord my God, if I have done this
    and there is guilt on my hands^(EI)—
⁴ if I have repaid my ally with evil
    or without cause^(EJ) have robbed my foe—
⁵ then let my enemy pursue and overtake^(EK) me;
    let him trample my life to the ground^(EL)
    and make me sleep in the dust.^[n](EM)

⁶ Arise,^(EN) Lord, in your anger;
    rise up against the rage of my enemies.^(EO)
    Awake,^(EP) my God; decree justice.
⁷ Let the assembled peoples gather around you,
    while you sit enthroned over them on high.^(EQ)
8     Let the Lord judge^(ER) the peoples.
Vindicate me, Lord, according to my righteousness,^(ES)
    according to my integrity,^(ET) O Most High.^(EU)
9 Bring to an end the violence of the wicked
    and make the righteous secure—^(EV)
you, the righteous God^(EW)
    who probes minds and hearts.^(EX)

¹⁰ My shield^[o](EY) is God Most High,
    who saves the upright in heart.^(EZ)
11 God is a righteous judge,^(FA)
    a God who displays his wrath^(FB) every day.
¹² If he does not relent,^(FC)
    he^[p] will sharpen his sword;^(FD)
    he will bend and string his bow.^(FE)
13 He has prepared his deadly weapons;
    he makes ready his flaming arrows.^(FF)

¹⁴ Whoever is pregnant with evil
    conceives trouble and gives birth^(FG) to disillusionment.
¹⁵ Whoever digs a hole and scoops it out
    falls into the pit^(FH) they have made.^(FI)
16 The trouble they cause recoils on them;
    their violence comes down on their own heads.

¹⁷ I will give thanks to the Lord because of his righteousness;^(FJ)
    I will sing the praises^(FK) of the name of the Lord Most High.^(FL)

You have set your glory^(FN)
    in the heavens.^(FO)
2 Through the praise of children and infants
    you have established a stronghold^(FP) against your enemies,
    to silence the foe^(FQ) and the avenger.
³ When I consider your heavens,^(FR)
    the work of your fingers,^(FS)
the moon and the stars,^(FT)
    which you have set in place,
⁴ what is mankind that you are mindful of them,
    human beings that you care for them?^[s](FU)

⁵ You have made them^[t] a little lower than the angels^[u](FV)
    and crowned them^[v] with glory and honor.^(FW)
6 You made them rulers^(FX) over the works of your hands;^(FY)
    you put everything under their^[w] feet:^(FZ)
7 all flocks and herds,^(GA)
    and the animals of the wild,^(GB)
8 the birds in the sky,
    and the fish in the sea,^(GC)
    all that swim the paths of the seas.

⁹ Lord, our Lord,
    how majestic is your name in all the earth!^(GD)

³ My enemies turn back;
    they stumble and perish before you.
⁴ For you have upheld my right^(GJ) and my cause,^(GK)
    sitting enthroned^(GL) as the righteous judge.^(GM)
5 You have rebuked the nations^(GN) and destroyed the wicked;
    you have blotted out their name^(GO) for ever and ever.
⁶ Endless ruin has overtaken my enemies,
    you have uprooted their cities;^(GP)
    even the memory of them^(GQ) has perished.

⁷ The Lord reigns forever;^(GR)
    he has established his throne^(GS) for judgment.
⁸ He rules the world in righteousness^(GT)
    and judges the peoples with equity.^(GU)
9 The Lord is a refuge^(GV) for the oppressed,^(GW)
    a stronghold in times of trouble.^(GX)
10 Those who know your name^(GY) trust in you,
    for you, Lord, have never forsaken^(GZ) those who seek you.^(HA)

¹¹ Sing the praises^(HB) of the Lord, enthroned in Zion;^(HC)
    proclaim among the nations^(HD) what he has done.^(HE)
12 For he who avenges blood^(HF) remembers;
    he does not ignore the cries of the afflicted.^(HG)

¹³ Lord, see how my enemies^(HH) persecute me!
    Have mercy^(HI) and lift me up from the gates of death,^(HJ)
14 that I may declare your praises^(HK)
    in the gates of Daughter Zion,^(HL)
    and there rejoice in your salvation.^(HM)