15 “Behold, Behemoth,[a]
    which I made as I made you;
    he eats (A)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 (B)the first of (C)the works[b] 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 (D)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,[c]
    or pierce his nose with a snare?

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Footnotes

  1. Job 40:15 A large animal, exact identity unknown
  2. Job 40:19 Hebrew ways
  3. Job 40:24 Or in his sight

15 Look at Behemoth,
which I made along with you.
He eats grass like cattle.
16 Look at the strength of his back[a]
and the power in the muscles of his belly.
17 He stiffens his tail like a cedar tree;
the tendons of his thighs are woven firmly together.
18 His bones are bronze tubes;
his limbs are like iron rods.
19 He is the foremost of God’s works;(A)
only his Maker can draw the sword against him.
20 The hills yield food for him,
while all sorts of wild animals play there.
21 He lies under the lotus plants,
hiding in the protection[b] of marshy reeds.
22 Lotus plants cover him with their shade;
the willows by the brook surround him.
23 Though the river rages, Behemoth is unafraid;
he remains confident, even if the Jordan surges up to his mouth.
24 Can anyone capture him while he looks on,[c]
or pierce his nose with snares?

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Footnotes

  1. 40:16 Or waist
  2. 40:21 Lit plants, in the hiding place
  3. 40:24 Lit capture it in its eyes