God’s Power Shown in Creatures

15 “Behold, [a]Behemoth, which (A)I made [b]as well as you;
He eats grass like an ox.
16 Behold, his strength in his waist,
And his power in the muscles of his belly.
17 He hangs his tail like a cedar;
The tendons of his thighs are knit together.
18 His bones are tubes of bronze;
His [c]limbs are like bars of iron.

19 “He is the (B)first of the ways of God;
Let his (C)Maker bring His sword near.
20 Indeed the [d]mountains (D)bring him food,
And all the animals of the field (E)play there.
21 He lies down under the lotus plants,
In the hiding place of the reeds and the marsh.
22 The lotus plants cover him with [e]shade;
The willows of the brook surround him.
23 If a river [f]rages, he is not alarmed;
He is confident, though the (F)Jordan rushes to his mouth.
24 Can anyone capture him [g]when he is on watch,
Can anyone pierce his nose with barbs?

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Footnotes

  1. Job 40:15 I.e., a powerful animal, possibly a hippopotamus
  2. Job 40:15 Lit with you
  3. Job 40:18 Lit bones
  4. Job 40:20 I.e., the mountain streams
  5. Job 40:22 Lit his shade
  6. Job 40:23 Or oppresses
  7. Job 40:24 Lit in his eyes

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