Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

75 ⁽⁰⁾ For the leader. Set to “Do Not Destroy!” A psalm of Asaf. A song:

^2 (1) We give thanks to you, God, we give thanks;
your name is near, people tell of your wonders.

^3 (2) “At the time of my own choice,
I will dispense justice fairly.
^4 (3) When the earth quakes, with all living on it,
it is I who hold its support-pillars firm.” (Selah)

^5 (4) To the boastful I say, “Do not boast!”
and to the wicked, “Don’t flaunt your strength!
^6 (5) Don’t flaunt your strength so proudly;
don’t speak arrogantly, with your nose in the air!
^7 (6) For you will not be raised to power
by those in the east, the west or the desert;
^8 (7) since God is the judge; and it is he
who puts down one and lifts up another.
^9 (8) In Adonai’s hand there is a cup of wine,
foaming, richly spiced;
when he pours it out, all the wicked of the earth
will drain it, drinking it to the dregs.”
^10 (9) But I will always speak out,
singing praises to the God of Ya‘akov.
^11 (10) I will break down the strength of the wicked,
but the strength of the righteous will be raised up.

40 Continuing to address Iyov, Adonai said:

² “Does the critic still want to dispute Shaddai?
Let him who wants to correct God give an answer!”
³ Then Iyov replied to Adonai:

⁴ “I am too ashamed; I have nothing to say.
I lay my hand over my mouth.
⁵ Yes, I spoke once, but I won’t answer more;
all right, twice, but I won’t go on.”

⁶ Adonai answered Iyov out of the storm:

⁷ “Stand up like a man, and brace yourself;
I will ask questions; and you, give the answers!

⁸ “Are you impugning my justice?
Putting me in the wrong to prove yourself right?
⁹ Do you have an arm like God’s?
Can you thunder with a voice like his?
¹⁰ Come on, deck yourself with majesty and dignity,
robe yourself in glory and splendor.
¹¹ Let loose your furious anger,
look at all who are proud, and humble them.
¹² Look at all who are proud, and bring them down;
tread down the wicked where they stand.
¹³ Bury them in the ground together,
bind their faces in the hidden world.
¹⁴ If you do this, then I will confess to you
that your own power can save you.

¹⁵ “Now consider Behemot, whom I made along with you.
He eats grass like an ox.
¹⁶ What strength he has in his loins!
What power in his stomach muscles!
¹⁷ He can make his tail as stiff as a cedar,
the muscles in his thighs are like cables,
¹⁸ his bones are like bronze pipes,
his limbs like iron bars.

¹⁹ “He ranks first among God’s works.
Only his maker can approach him with his sword.
²⁰ The mountains produce food for him there,
where all the wild animals play.
²¹ He lies down under the thorny lotus bushes
and is hidden by the reeds in the swamp;
²² the lotus bushes cover him with their shade,
and the willows by the stream surround him.
²³ If the river overflows, it doesn’t worry him;
he is confident even if the Yarden rushes by his mouth.
²⁴ Can anyone catch him by his eyes
or pierce his nose with a hook?
^25 (41:1) “And Livyatan! Can you catch him with a fishhook
or hold his tongue down with a rope?
^26 (41:2) Can you put a ring in his nose
or pierce his jaw with a barb?
^27 (41:3) Will he entreat you at length?
Will he speak with you softly?
^28 (41:4) Will he agree with you
to be your slave forever?
^29 (41:5) Will you play with him as you would with a bird
or keep him on a string to amuse your little girls?
^30 (41:6) Will a group of fishermen turn him into a banquet?
Will they divide him among the merchants?
^31 (41:7) Can you fill his skin with darts
or his head with fish-spears?
^32 (41:8) If you lay your hand on him,
you won’t forget the fight, and you’ll never do it again!