Job 40

Job: What Can I Say?

1Then the Lord said to Job,

2“Will the faultfinder contend with the Almighty? Let him who disputes with God answer it.”

3Then Job replied to the Lord and said,

4“Behold, I am of little importance and contemptible; what can I reply to You? I lay my hand on my mouth.

God Questions Job

5I have spoken once, but I will not reply again— Indeed, twice [I have answered], and I will add nothing further.”

6Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind, saying,

7“Now gird up your loins (prepare yourself) like a man, And I will ask you, and you instruct Me.

8Will you really annul My judgment and set it aside as void? Will you condemn Me [your God] that you may [appear to] be righteous and justified?

9Have you an arm like God, And can you thunder with a voice like His?

10“Adorn yourself with eminence and dignity [since you question the Almighty], And array yourself with honor and majesty.

11Pour out the overflowings of your wrath, And look at everyone who is proud and make him low.

12Look at everyone who is proud, and humble him, And [if you are so able] tread down the wicked where they stand.

13[Crush and] hide them in the dust together; Shut them up in the hidden place [the house of death].

God’s Power Shown in Creatures

14[If you can do all this, Job, proving your divine power] then I [God] will also praise you and acknowledge That your own right hand can save you.

15“Behold now, Behemoth, which I created as well as you; He eats grass like an ox.

16See now, his strength is in his loins And his power is in the muscles and sinews of his belly.

17He sways his tail like a cedar; The tendons of his thighs are twisted and knit together [like a rope].

18His bones are tubes of bronze; His limbs are like bars of iron.

19“He is the first [in magnitude and power] of the works of God; [Only] He who made him can bring near His sword [to master him].

20Surely the mountains bring him food, And all the wild animals play there.

21He lies down under the lotus plants, In the hidden shelter of the reeds in the marsh.

22The lotus plants cover him with their shade; The willows of the brook surround him.

23If a river rages and overflows, he does not tremble; He is confident, though the Jordan [River] swells and rushes against his mouth.

24Can anyone capture him when he is on watch, Or pierce his nose with barbs [to trap him]?