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Job Places His Hand over His Mouth

40 Then Yahweh answered Job and said,

“Will the faultfinder (A)contend with the Almighty?
Let him who (B)reproves God answer it.”

Then Job answered Yahweh and said,

“Behold, I am insignificant; what can I respond to You?
I (C)place my hand over my mouth.
Once I have spoken, and (D)I will not answer;
Even twice, and I will add nothing more.”

Yahweh Will Ask Job

Then (E)Yahweh answered Job out of the [a]whirlwind and said,

“Now (F)gird up your loins like a man;
I will (G)ask you, and you make Me know.
Will you really (H)annul My judgment?
Will you (I)condemn Me (J)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 exaltation and loftiness,
And clothe yourself with splendor and majesty.
11 Pour out (M)the overflowings of your anger,
And look on everyone who is (N)proud, and make him low.
12 Look on everyone who is proud, and (O)humble him,
And (P)tread down the wicked [b]in their place.
13 (Q)Hide them in the dust together;
Bind their faces in the hidden place.
14 Then I will also praise you,
That your own right hand can save you.

Behold the Behemoth

15 “Behold now, [c]Behemoth, which (R)I made along with you;
It eats grass like an ox.
16 Behold now, its power in its loins
And its vigor in the muscles of its belly.
17 It hangs its tail like a cedar;
The sinews of its thighs are knit together.
18 Its bones are tubes of bronze;
Its [d]limbs are like bars of iron.

19 “It is the (S)first of the ways of God;
Let its (T)Maker bring near its sword.
20 Surely the mountains (U)bring it food,
And all the beasts of the field (V)play there.
21 Under the lotus plants it lies down,
In the hidden place of the reeds and the marsh.
22 The lotus plants cover it with [e]shade;
The willows of the brook surround it.
23 If a river oppresses, it is not alarmed;
It is secure, though the (W)Jordan bursts forth to its mouth.
24 Can anyone capture it before its eyes,
With snares can anyone pierce its nose?

Footnotes

  1. Job 40:6 Or storm
  2. Job 40:12 Lit under them
  3. Job 40:15 Hippopotamus, dinosaur, or other; lit great beast
  4. Job 40:18 Lit bones
  5. Job 40:22 Lit his shade

The Lord Confronts Job

40 The Lord responded to Job and said:

Will the one who makes charges against the Almighty
    dare to correct him?
The one who accuses God should make his case!

Job answered the Lord and said:

No, I am insignificant.[a]
How could I reply to you?
I will put my hand over my mouth.
I spoke once, but I cannot defend it.
Twice, but I will not go any further.

Then the Lord answered Job from the violent storm. He said:

Get ready for action like a man!
Then I will ask you questions,
and you will inform me.

Will you really deny that I am just?
Will you convict me, so that you can be acquitted?
Do you have an arm like God’s arm?
Does your voice thunder like his?
10 Go ahead, please. Adorn yourself with dignity and honor.
Clothe yourself with splendor and majesty.
11 Pour out your overflowing anger.
Look at every proud man and bring him low.
12 Look at every proud man and humble him.
Trample the wicked where they stand.
13 Bury them all together in the dust.
Cover their faces in the hidden place.
14 Then I will praise you
and admit that your right hand can save you.

Behemoth

15 Take a look at Behemoth,[b]
    which I made just as I made you.
He eats grass like cattle.
16 Would you look at the power of his hips
and the strength of the muscles of his belly!
17 He stiffens his tail[c] like a cedar.
The tendons of his thighs[d] are tight.
18 His bones are tubes of bronze.
His skeleton is like bars of iron.
19 He stands at the head of God’s creatures,
but his Maker draws near with his sword.[e]
20 Yes, the mountains carry their floodwaters[f] to him.
All the wild animals play there.
21 He lies under the lotus plants,
hidden among the reeds in the marsh.
22 The lotus plants cover him with their shadows.
Poplars by the stream surround him.
23 The river rages, but he is not frightened.
He remains calm even if the Jordan bursts into his mouth.
24 Can people capture him by his eyes?
Can they pierce his nose with a hook?

Footnotes

  1. Job 40:4 Or not worthy
  2. Job 40:15 Or the Beast. This is a poetic description, which does not exactly match any known animal, though the hippopotamus has been suggested as the closest match. Other suggestions are the elephant or some form of dinosaur.
  3. Job 40:17 Or penis. The Hebrew word zanav, which most often means tail, can be used as a euphemism for penis.
  4. Job 40:17 Or testicles. The Targum, the Vulgate, Luther, and the King James Version all support the interpretation testicles.
  5. Job 40:19 Or his Maker provided him with his sword
  6. Job 40:20 Or food. The word occurs only here. The translation accepts the view that it is derived from a verb that means flow violently. Many translations accept a derivation from a verb that means produce.

40 The Lord said to Job:(A)

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

Then Job answered the Lord:

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

Then the Lord spoke to Job out of the storm:(I)

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

“Would you discredit my justice?(K)
    Would you condemn me to justify yourself?(L)
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)
20 The hills bring it their produce,(AI)
    and all the wild animals play(AJ) nearby.(AK)
21 Under the lotus plants it lies,
    hidden among the reeds(AL) in the marsh.(AM)
22 The lotuses conceal it in their shadow;
    the poplars by the stream(AN) surround it.
23 A raging river(AO) does not alarm it;
    it is secure, though the Jordan(AP) should surge against its mouth.
24 Can anyone capture it by the eyes,
    or trap it and pierce its nose?(AQ)