Job 40
Expanded Bible
40 The Lord answered and said to Job:
2 “Will the person who ·argues [contends] with the Almighty correct him?
Let the person who ·accuses [reproves] God answer him.”
3 Then Job answered the Lord:
4 “I am ·not worthy [small]; I cannot answer you anything,
so I will put my hand over my mouth [C to indicate no more talking].
5 I spoke one time, but I will not answer again;
I even spoke two times, but I will ·say [add] nothing more.”
6 Then the Lord spoke to Job from the ·storm [whirlwind]:
7 “·Be strong [Brace yourself; L Gird your loins], like a man!
I will ask you questions,
and you must ·answer [inform] me [38:3].
8 Would you ·say that I am unfair [discredit my justice]?
Would you ·blame [condemn] me to make yourself look ·right [righteous]?
9 ·Are you [L Is your arm] as strong as God?
Can your voice thunder like his?
10 If so, then decorate yourself with ·glory [loftiness] and ·beauty [pride];
dress in ·honor [splendor] and ·greatness [majesty] as if they were clothing.
11 Let your great anger ·punish [L loose];
look at the proud and bring them down.
12 Look at the proud and make them ·humble [submit].
Crush the wicked wherever they ·are [stand].
13 ·Bury [L Hide] them all in the ·dirt [dust] together;
·cover [hide] their faces in the ·grave [L hidden place].
14 If you can do that, then I myself will ·praise [acknowledge] you,
because ·you are strong enough to save yourself [L your right hand has given you the victory].
15 “Look at Behemoth, [C a large land animal or monster],
which I made just as I made you.
It eats grass like an ox.
16 Look at the strength it has in its ·body [L loins];
the muscles of its stomach are powerful.
17 Its tail ·is [stiffens] like a cedar tree;
the ·muscles [sinews] of its thighs are woven together.
18 Its bones are like tubes of bronze;
its legs are like bars of iron.
19 It is one of the first of God’s works,
but its Maker can ·destroy it [L approach it with a sword].
20 The hills, where the wild animals play,
provide food for it.
21 It ·lies [lives] under the lotus plants,
hidden by the ·tall grass in the swamp [reeds of the marsh].
22 The lotus plants ·hide [cover] it in their shadow;
the poplar trees by the ·streams [wadis] surround it.
23 If the river ·floods [grows turbulent], it will not ·be afraid [or hurry away];
it is ·safe [confident; secure] even if the Jordan River rushes to its mouth.
24 Can anyone ·blind its eyes and capture it [or take it with a hook]?
Can anyone ·put hooks in its nose [pierce its nose with a snare]?
Job 40
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Chapter 40
1 The Lord then answered Job and said:
2 Will one who argues with the Almighty be corrected?
Let him who would instruct God give answer!(A)
3 Then Job answered the Lord and said:
4 [a]Look, I am of little account; what can I answer you?
I put my hand over my mouth.
5 I have spoken once, I will not reply;
twice, but I will do so no more.
6 Then the Lord answered Job out of the storm and said:
7 Gird up your loins now, like a man.
I will question you, and you tell me the answers!
8 [b]Would you refuse to acknowledge my right?
Would you condemn me that you may be justified?
9 Have you an arm like that of God,
or can you thunder with a voice like his?
10 Adorn yourself with grandeur and majesty,
and clothe yourself with glory and splendor.
11 Let loose the fury of your wrath;
look at everyone who is proud and bring them down.
12 Look at everyone who is proud, and humble them.
Tear down the wicked in their place,
13 bury them in the dust together;
in the hidden world imprison them.
14 Then will I too praise you,
for your own right hand can save you.
15 Look at Behemoth,[c] whom I made along with you,
who feeds on grass like an ox.
16 See the strength in his loins,
the power in the sinews of his belly.
17 He carries his tail like a cedar;
the sinews of his thighs are like cables.
18 His bones are like tubes of bronze;
his limbs are like iron rods.
19 He is the first of God’s ways,
only his maker can approach him with a sword.
20 For the mountains bring him produce,
and all wild animals make sport there.
21 Under lotus trees he lies,
in coverts of the reedy swamp.
22 The lotus trees cover him with their shade;
all about him are the poplars in the wadi.
23 If the river grows violent, he is not disturbed;
he is tranquil though the Jordan surges about his mouth.
24 Who can capture him by his eyes,
or pierce his nose[d] with a trap?
25 Can you lead Leviathan[e] about with a hook,
or tie down his tongue with a rope?
26 Can you put a ring into his nose,
or pierce through his cheek with a gaff?
27 Will he then plead with you, time after time,
or address you with tender words?
28 Will he make a covenant with you
that you may have him as a slave forever?
29 Can you play with him, as with a bird?
Can you tie him up for your little girls?
30 Will the traders bargain for him?
Will the merchants[f] divide him up?
31 Can you fill his hide with barbs,
or his head with fish spears?
32 Once you but lay a hand upon him,
no need to recall any other conflict!
Footnotes
- 40:4–5 Job’s first reaction is humble, but also seemingly cautious.
- 40:8–14 The issue is joined in these verses, and the Lord seems to challenge Job to play God and to bring down the proud and wicked.
- 40:15 Behemoth: a primeval monster of chaos; identified by some scholars as the hippopotamus, on which the description of Behemoth is partially based. The point of the Behemoth-Leviathan passages is that only the Lord, not Job, can control the cosmic evil which these forces symbolize.
- 40:24 Eyes…nose: the only exposed parts of the submerged beast.
- 40:25 Leviathan: although identified by some scholars as the crocodile, it is more likely another chaos monster; see note on 3:8.
- 40:30 Merchants: lit., “Canaanites,” whose reputation for trading was so widespread that their name came to be used for merchants; cf. Prv 31:24.
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