40 And the Lord (A)said to Job:

“Shall a faultfinder (B)contend with the Almighty?
    He who argues with God, let him answer it.”

Job Promises Silence

Then Job answered the Lord and said:

“Behold, I am (C)of small account; what shall I answer you?
    (D)I lay my hand on my mouth.
I have spoken (E)once, and I will not answer;
    (F)twice, but I will proceed no further.”

The Lord Challenges Job

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

(H)“Dress for action[a] like a man;
    (I)I will question you, and you make it known to me.
Will you even put me in the wrong?
    Will you condemn me that (J)you may be in the right?
Have you (K)an arm like God,
    and can you thunder with (L)a voice like his?

10 “Adorn yourself with majesty and dignity;
    (M)clothe yourself with glory and splendor.
11 Pour out the overflowings of your anger,
    and look on everyone who is (N)proud and abase him.
12 Look on everyone who is proud and bring him low
    and (O)tread down the wicked (P)where they stand.
13 (Q)Hide them all in (R)the dust together;
    bind their faces in the world below.[b]
14 Then will I also acknowledge to you
    that your own (S)right hand can save you.

15 “Behold, Behemoth,[c]
    which I made as I made you;
    he eats (T)grass like an ox.
16 Behold, his strength in his loins,
    and his power in the muscles of his belly.
17 He makes his tail stiff like a cedar;
    the sinews of his thighs are knit together.
18 His bones are tubes of bronze,
    his limbs like bars of iron.

19 “He is (U)the first of (V)the works[d] of God;
    let him who made him bring near his sword!
20 For the mountains yield food for him
    where all the wild beasts play.
21 Under the lotus plants he lies,
    in the shelter of (W)the reeds and in the marsh.
22 For his shade the lotus trees cover him;
    the willows of the brook surround him.
23 Behold, if the river is turbulent he is not frightened;
    he is confident though Jordan rushes against his mouth.
24 Can one take him by his eyes,[e]
    or pierce his nose with a snare?

Footnotes

  1. Job 40:7 Hebrew Gird up your loins
  2. Job 40:13 Hebrew in the hidden place
  3. Job 40:15 A large animal, exact identity uncertain
  4. Job 40:19 Hebrew ways
  5. Job 40:24 Or in his sight

约伯向耶和华自卑

40 耶和华又对约伯说: “强辩的岂可与全能者争论吗?与神辩驳的可以回答这些吧!”

于是约伯回答耶和华说: “我是卑贱的,我用什么回答你呢?只好用手捂口。 我说了一次,再不回答;说了两次,就不再说。”

耶和华以所问所行诘约伯

于是耶和华从旋风中回答约伯说: “你要如勇士束腰,我问你,你可以指示我。 你岂可废弃我所拟定的?岂可定我有罪,好显自己为义吗? 你有神那样的膀臂吗?你能像他发雷声吗?

10 “你要以荣耀庄严为装饰,以尊荣威严为衣服。 11 要发出你满溢的怒气,见一切骄傲的人,使他降卑, 12 见一切骄傲的人,将他制伏,把恶人践踏在本处。 13 将他们一同隐藏在尘土中,把他们的脸蒙蔽在隐密处。 14 我就认你右手能以救自己。

15 “你且观看河马,我造你也造它,它吃草与牛一样。 16 它的气力在腰间,能力在肚腹的筋上。 17 它摇动尾巴如香柏树,它大腿的筋互相联络。 18 它的骨头好像铜管,它的肢体仿佛铁棍。 19 它在神所造的物中为首,创造它的给它刀剑。 20 诸山给它出食物,也是百兽游玩之处。 21 它伏在莲叶之下,卧在芦苇隐密处和水洼子里。 22 莲叶的阴凉遮蔽它,溪旁的柳树环绕它。 23 河水泛滥,它不发战,就是约旦河的水涨到它口边,也是安然。 24 在它防备的时候,谁能捉拿它?谁能牢笼它,穿它的鼻子呢?