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The Book of Job

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- Chapter 40 -

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But the Lord, answering Job out of the whirlwind, said:
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Gird your waist like a man. I will question you, and you must answer me.

Job's answer to God

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Will you make my judgment null and void; and will you condemn me so that you may be justified?
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And do you have an arm like God, or a voice like thunder?
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Envelop yourself with splendor, and raise yourself up on high, and be glorious, and put on splendid garments.

God's challenge to Job

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Scatter the arrogant with your wrath, and, when you see all the arrogant, humble them.
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Look down upon each of the arrogant and confound them, and crush the impious in their place.
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Hide them in the dust together and plunge their faces into the pit.
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Then I will confess that your right hand is able to save you.
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Behold, the behemoth, whom I created along with you, eats hay like an ox.(a) (b)
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His strength is in his lower back, and his power is in the center of his abdomen.
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He draws up his tail like a cedar; the sinews of his thighs have been drawn together.
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His bones are like pipes of brass; his cartilage is like plates of iron.
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He is the beginning of the ways of God, who made him; he will use him as his sword.(c)
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The mountains bring forth grass for him; all the beasts of the field will play there.
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He sleeps in the shadows, under the cover of branches, and in moist places.
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The shadows cover his shadow; the willows of the brook will encircle him.
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Behold, he will drink a river and not be amazed, and he has confidence that the Jordan could flow into his mouth.
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He will seize him through his eyes, as if with a hook, and he will bore through his nostrils, as if with stakes.
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Can you draw out the leviathan with a hook, and can you bind his tongue with a cord?(d)
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Can you place a ring in his nose, or bore through his jaw with an arm band?
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Will he offer many prayers to you, or speak to you quietly?
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Will he form a covenant with you, and will you accept him as a servant forever?
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Will you play with him as with a bird, or tether him for your handmaids?
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Will your friends cut him into pieces, will dealers distribute him?
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Will you fill up bags with his hide, and let his head be used as a home for fishes?
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Place your hand upon him; remember the battle and speak no more.
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Behold, his hope will fail him, and in the sight of all, he will be thrown down.

Footnotes

(a)40:10 This passage about the behemoth is a poetic and prophetic description of the beast described in the book of Revelation.(Conte)
(b)40:10 Behemoth:In Hebrew, behema, which signifies in general an animal; but many authors explain, that here it is put for the elephant.(Challoner)
(c)40:14 He will apply his sword:This text is variously explained: some explain the sword, the horn given to the animal for his defence: others, the power that God has given to the animal for his defence: others, the power that God has given to man to slay him, notwithstanding his great size and strength.(Challoner)
(d)40:20 Leviathan:The whale or some sea monster.(Challoner)
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Moreover the LORD answered Job,
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“Shall he who argues contend with the Almighty? He who argues with God, let him answer it.”

Job's answer to God

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Then Job answered the LORD,
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“Behold, I am of small account. What will I answer you? I lay my hand on my mouth.
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I have spoken once, and I will not answer; Yes, twice, but I will proceed no further.”

God's challenge to Job

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Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind:
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“Now brace yourself like a man. I will question you, and you will answer me.
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Will you even annul my judgment? Will you condemn me, that you may be justified?
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Or do you have an arm like God? Can you thunder with a voice like him?
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“Now deck yourself with excellency and dignity. Array yourself with honor and majesty.
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Pour out the fury of your anger. Look at everyone who is proud, and bring him low.
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Look at everyone who is proud, and humble him. Crush the wicked in their place.
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Hide them in the dust together. Bind their faces in the hidden place.
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Then I will also admit to you that your own right hand can save you.
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“See now behemoth, which I made as well as you. He eats grass as an ox.
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Look now, his strength is in his thighs. His force is in the muscles of his belly.
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He moves his tail like a cedar. The sinews of his thighs are knit together.
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His bones are like tubes of bronze. His limbs are like bars of iron.
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He is the chief of the ways of God. He who made him gives him his sword.
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Surely the mountains produce food for him, where all the animals of the field play.
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He lies under the lotus trees, in the covert of the reed, and the marsh.
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The lotuses cover him with their shade. The willows of the brook surround him.
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Behold, if a river overflows, he doesn’t tremble. He is confident, though the Jordan swells even to his mouth.
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Shall any take him when he is on the watch, or pierce through his nose with a snare?
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