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

⁴ “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?^(F)
    Tell me, if you understand.^(G)
5 Who marked off its dimensions?^(H) Surely you know!
    Who stretched a measuring line^(I) across it?
⁶ On what were its footings set,^(J)
    or who laid its cornerstone^(K)—
⁷ while the morning stars^(L) sang together^(M)
    and all the angels^[a](N) shouted for joy?^(O)

⁸ “Who shut up the sea behind doors^(P)
    when it burst forth from the womb,^(Q)
9 when I made the clouds its garment
    and wrapped it in thick darkness,^(R)
10 when I fixed limits for it^(S)
    and set its doors and bars in place,^(T)
11 when I said, ‘This far you may come and no farther;^(U)
    here is where your proud waves halt’?^(V)

³¹ “Can you bind the chains^[a] of the Pleiades?
    Can you loosen Orion’s belt?^(A)
32 Can you bring forth the constellations^(B) in their seasons^[b]
    or lead out the Bear^[c] with its cubs?^(C)
33 Do you know the laws^(D) of the heavens?^(E)
    Can you set up God’s^[d] dominion over the earth?

² “Will the one who contends with the Almighty^(B) correct him?^(C)
    Let him who accuses God answer him!”^(D)

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

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

⁸ “Would you discredit my justice?^(K)
    Would you condemn me to justify yourself?^(L)
9 Do you have an arm like God’s,^(M)
    and can your voice^(N) thunder like his?^(O)
10 Then adorn yourself with glory and splendor,
    and clothe yourself in honor and majesty.^(P)
11 Unleash the fury of your wrath,^(Q)
    look at all who are proud and bring them low,^(R)
12 look at all who are proud^(S) and humble them,^(T)
    crush^(U) the wicked where they stand.
¹³ Bury them all in the dust together;^(V)
    shroud their faces in the grave.^(W)
14 Then I myself will admit to you
    that your own right hand can save you.^(X)

¹⁵ “Look at Behemoth,
    which I made^(Y) along with you
    and which feeds on grass like an ox.^(Z)
16 What strength^(AA) it has in its loins,
    what power in the muscles of its belly!^(AB)
17 Its tail sways like a cedar;
    the sinews of its thighs are close-knit.^(AC)
18 Its bones are tubes of bronze,
    its limbs^(AD) like rods of iron.^(AE)
19 It ranks first among the works of God,^(AF)
    yet its Maker^(AG) can approach it with his sword.^(AH)

41 ^[a]“Can you pull in Leviathan^(A) with a fishhook^(B)
    or tie down its tongue with a rope?
² Can you put a cord through its nose^(C)
    or pierce its jaw with a hook?^(D)
3 Will it keep begging you for mercy?^(E)
    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?^(F)
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?^(G)
8 If you lay a hand on it,
    you will remember the struggle and never do it again!^(H)
9 Any hope of subduing it is false;
    the mere sight of it is overpowering.^(I)
10 No one is fierce enough to rouse it.^(J)
    Who then is able to stand against me?^(K)
11 Who has a claim against me that I must pay?^(L)
    Everything under heaven belongs to me.^(M)