Job Says What Can I Say?

40 Then the Lord said to Job,

“Will the faultfinder (A)contend with the Almighty?
Let him who (B)rebukes God [a]give an answer.”

Then Job answered the Lord and said,

“Behold, I am insignificant; what can I say in response to You?
I (C)put my hand on my mouth.
I have spoken once, and (D)I will not reply;
Or twice, and I will add nothing more.”

God Questions Job

Then the (E)Lord answered Job from the whirlwind and said,

“Now [b](F)tighten the belt on your waist like a man;
I will (G)ask you, and you instruct Me.
Will you really (H)nullify My judgment?
Will you (I)condemn Me (J)so that you may be justified?
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

  1. Job 40:2 Lit answer it
  2. Job 40:7 I.e., as if for battle
  3. Job 40:12 Lit under them
  4. Job 40:13 Lit their faces
  5. Job 40:14 Or praise you
  6. Job 40:15 I.e., a powerful animal, possibly a hippopotamus
  7. Job 40:15 Lit with you
  8. Job 40:18 Lit bones
  9. Job 40:20 I.e., the mountain streams
  10. Job 40:22 Lit his shade
  11. Job 40:23 Or oppresses
  12. Job 40:24 Lit in his eyes

40 And Jehovah answered Job and said,

Shall he that will contend with the Almighty instruct [him]? he that reproveth +God, let him answer it.

And Job answered Jehovah and said,

Behold, I am nought: what shall I answer thee? I will lay my hand upon my mouth.

Once have I spoken, and I will not answer; yea twice, but I will proceed no further.

And Jehovah answered Job out of the whirlwind and said,

Gird up now thy loins like a man: I will demand of thee, and inform thou me.

Wilt thou also annul my judgment? wilt thou condemn me that thou mayest be righteous?

Hast thou an arm like God? or canst thou thunder with a voice like him?

10 Deck thyself now with glory and excellency, and clothe thyself with majesty and splendour.

11 Cast abroad the ragings of thine anger, and look on every one that is proud, and abase him:

12 Look on every one that is proud, bring him low, and tread down the wicked in their place:

13 Hide them in the dust together; bind their faces in secret.

14 Then will I also praise thee, because thy right hand saveth thee.

15 See now the behemoth, which I made with thee: he eateth grass as an ox.

16 Behold now, his strength is in his loins, and his force is in the muscles of his belly.

17 He bendeth his tail like a cedar; the sinews of his thighs are woven together.

18 His bones are tubes of bronze, his members are like bars of iron.

19 He is the chief of God's ways: he that made him gave him his sword.

20 For the mountains bring him forth food, where all the beasts of the field play.

21 He lieth under lotus-bushes, in the covert of the reed and fen:

22 Lotus-bushes cover him with their shade; the willows of the brook surround him.

23 Lo, the river overfloweth—he startleth not: he is confident though a Jordan break forth against his mouth.

24 Shall he be taken in front? will they pierce through [his] nose in the trap?