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 Herren fortsatte:

„Er du stadig parat til at anklage mig?
    Vil du fortsat belære den almægtige Gud?”

Job giver op

Da svarede Job:

„Hvad kan lille jeg sige til den almægtige Gud?
    Nej, nu vil jeg holde mund.
Jeg har allerede sagt for meget
    og har ikke mere at sige.”

Gud udfordrer Job igen

Da talte Herren igen til Job fra stormvejret:

„Du plejer ikke at være bange for en ordduel.
    Svar nu på de spørgsmål, jeg stiller.
Beskylder du mig for at være uretfærdig,
    for at du på den måde kan bevise din uskyld?
Stiller du dig på højde med mig?
    Kan du også tale med tordenrøst?

10 Nuvel, så rejs dig med pomp og pragt
    og stå i din magtfulde værdighed.
11 Lad så din retfærdige vrede komme til udtryk,
    så du kan ydmyge alle de hovmodige.
12 Skær dem ned med dit vrede blik
    og tvær de onde ud på stedet.
13 Sørg for at få dem lagt i graven,
    spær dem inde i dødens rige.
14 Hvis du kan gøre det, vil jeg ære dig,
    for så har du også magt til frelse dig selv.

15 Se engang på behemot,[a] som jeg skabte, tillige med dig.
    Den æder græs som en ko.
16 Se, dens stærke lemmer
    og de enorme mavemuskler.
17 Dens hale er som et cedertræ,
    benenes sener er som spændte strenge.
18 Dens knogler er som bronzerør,
    benene som søjler af jern.
19 Den er det mægtigste dyr, jeg har skabt,
    og kun dets Skaber har større magt.
20 Den finder sin føde på bakkerne,
    hvor alle de vilde dyr boltrer sig.
21 Den ligger i skjul under lotusbladene
    og gemmer sig mellem sivene.
22 Lotusplanterne dækker over den,
    og poplerne langs floden giver den skygge.
23 Den er ikke bange for de brusende vande,
    når Jordanfloden strømmer imod den.
24 Hvordan vil du fange den?
    Med en krog gennem næsen?

25 Er din magt større end Livjatans?[b]
    Kan du få den til at bide på krogen
    eller fange den med en løkke om snuden?
26 Kan du trække et reb gennem dens næse
    eller stikke en krog i kæben på den?
27 Kan du få den til at bede om nåde,
    tigge dig om at have medlidenhed?
28 Vil den love at arbejde for dig,
    så du kan gøre den til slave på livstid?
29 Vil du lege med den som med en fugl
    eller lade dine piger gå med den i snor?
30 Kan du sælge den på fiskemarkedet,
    skåret i småstykker til køberne?
31 Kan dit spyd gennembore dens skind
    eller harpuner såre dens hoved?
32 Hvis du forsøger at fange den, bliver der voldsom kamp.
    Sådan noget prøver man kun én gang.

Footnotes

  1. 40,15 Det vides ikke, om der tænkes på en nu uddød dyreart eller et mytisk uhyre.
  2. 40,25 Det vides ikke, om der tænkes på en nu uddød dyreart eller et mytisk uhyre.

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