40 Moreover the Lord answered Job, and said,

Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? he that reproveth God, let him answer it.

Then Job answered the Lord, and said,

Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth.

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

Then answered the Lord unto Job out of the whirlwind, and said,

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

Wilt thou also disannul 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 majesty and excellency; and array thyself with glory and beauty.

11 Cast abroad the rage of thy wrath: and behold every one that is proud, and abase him.

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

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

14 Then will I also confess unto thee that thine own right hand can save thee.

15 Behold now behemoth, which I made with thee; he eateth grass as an ox.

16 Lo now, his strength is in his loins, and his force is in the navel of his belly.

17 He moveth his tail like a cedar: the sinews of his stones are wrapped together.

18 His bones are as strong pieces of brass; his bones are like bars of iron.

19 He is the chief of the ways of God: he that made him can make his sword to approach unto him.

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

21 He lieth under the shady trees, in the covert of the reed, and fens.

22 The shady trees cover him with their shadow; the willows of the brook compass him about.

23 Behold, he drinketh up a river, and hasteth not: he trusteth that he can draw up Jordan into his mouth.

24 He taketh it with his eyes: his nose pierceth through snares.

40 Отговори Господ на Иова из бурята и рече:

(A)препаши като мъж кръста си: Аз ще те питам, а ти Ми обяснявай.

Съда Ми ли искаш да обориш, да Ме обвиниш ли, та себе си да оправдаеш?

Такава ли е твоята мишца, както на Бога? И можеш ли като Него да загърмиш с глас?

Украси се тогази с величие и слава, облечи се в блясък и великолепие;

излей яростта на гнева си, погледни всичко, що е горделиво, и го смири;

погледни всички високомерни и ги унизи, и съсипи нечестивите на местата им;

зарови ги всички в земята и покрий лицата им с тъма.

Тогава и Аз ще призная, че твоята десница може да те спасява.

10 Ето бегемотът, който съм създал, както и тебе; той яде трева като вол;

11 ето, неговата сила е в бедрата му, и якостта му – в мишците на корема му;

12 размахва опашката си като кедър; а жилите на бедрата му са преплетени;

13 краката му са като медни тръби; костите му са като железни пръти;

14 това е върхът на Божиите пътища: само Оня, Който го е сътворил, може да приближи меча Си до него;

15 планините му принасят храна, и там всички полски зверове играят;

16 той си ляга под сенчестите дървета, под покрива на тръстиката и в блатата;

17 сенчестите дървета го покриват със сянката си; върбите край потоците го окръжават;

18 ето, той пие от реката и не бърза; остава си спокоен, ако ще би Иордан да хлуйне към устата му.

19 Ще го хване ли някой открито и ще продупчи ли носа му с кука?

20 Можеш ли извлече с въдица левиатана и с връв да го вържеш за езика?

21 Ще вденеш ли халка в ноздрите му? Ще прободеш ли с шило челюстта му?

22 Ще ли ти се много моли и ще ли ти говори кротко?

23 Ще направи ли договор с тебе, ще го вземеш ли завинаги като свой роб?

24 Ще се забавляваш ли с него като с птичка, и ще го вържеш ли зарад момиченцата си?

25 Ще го продават ли другарите по лов, ще го делят ли между хананейските търговци?

26 Можеш ли промуши кожата му с копие и главата му с рибарска вила?

27 Тури на него ръката си и помни за борбата: занапред не ще посмееш.

God’s Power and Wisdom

40 Moreover the Lord (A)answered Job, and said:

“Shall (B)the one who contends with the Almighty correct Him?
He who (C)rebukes God, let him answer it.”

Job’s Response to God

Then Job answered the Lord and said:

“Behold,(D) I am vile;
What shall I answer You?
(E)I lay my hand over my mouth.
Once I have spoken, but I will not answer;
Yes, twice, but I will proceed no further.”

God’s Challenge to Job

(F)Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said:

“Now(G) [a]prepare yourself like a man;
(H)I will question you, and you shall answer Me:

“Would(I) you indeed [b]annul My judgment?
Would you condemn Me that you may be justified?
Have you an arm like God?
Or can you thunder with (J)a voice like His?
10 (K)Then adorn yourself with majesty and splendor,
And array yourself with glory and beauty.
11 Disperse the rage of your wrath;
Look on everyone who is proud, and humble him.
12 Look on everyone who is (L)proud, and bring him low;
Tread down the wicked in their place.
13 Hide them in the dust together,
Bind their faces in hidden darkness.
14 Then I will also confess to you
That your own right hand can save you.

15 “Look now at the [c]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 his stomach muscles.
17 He moves his tail like a cedar;
The sinews of his thighs are tightly knit.
18 His bones are like beams of bronze,
His ribs like bars of iron.
19 He is the first of the (M)ways of God;
Only He who made him can bring near His sword.
20 Surely the mountains (N)yield food for him,
And all the beasts of the field play there.
21 He lies under the lotus trees,
In a covert of reeds and marsh.
22 The lotus trees cover him with their shade;
The willows by the brook surround him.
23 Indeed the river may rage,
Yet he is not disturbed;
He is confident, though the Jordan gushes into his mouth,
24 Though he takes it in his eyes,
Or one pierces his nose with a snare.

Footnotes

  1. Job 40:7 Lit. gird up your loins
  2. Job 40:8 nullify
  3. Job 40:15 A large animal, exact identity unknown