The Book of Job

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- Kapitel 40 -

But the Lord, answering Job out of the whirlwind, said:

Gird your waist like a man. I will question you, and you must answer me.

Job's answer to God

Will you make my judgment null and void; and will you condemn me so that you may be justified?

And do you have an arm like God, or a voice like thunder?

Envelop yourself with splendor, and raise yourself up on high, and be glorious, and put on splendid garments.

God's challenge to Job

Scatter the arrogant with your wrath, and, when you see all the arrogant, humble them.

Look down upon each of the arrogant and confound them, and crush the impious in their place.

Hide them in the dust together and plunge their faces into the pit.

Then I will confess that your right hand is able to save you.

Behold, the behemoth, whom I created along with you, eats hay like an ox.(a)

(b)

His strength is in his lower back, and his power is in the center of his abdomen.

He draws up his tail like a cedar; the sinews of his thighs have been drawn together.

His bones are like pipes of brass; his cartilage is like plates of iron.

He is the beginning of the ways of God, who made him; he will use him as his sword.(c)

The mountains bring forth grass for him; all the beasts of the field will play there.

He sleeps in the shadows, under the cover of branches, and in moist places.

The shadows cover his shadow; the willows of the brook will encircle him.

Behold, he will drink a river and not be amazed, and he has confidence that the Jordan could flow into his mouth.

He will seize him through his eyes, as if with a hook, and he will bore through his nostrils, as if with stakes.

Can you draw out the leviathan with a hook, and can you bind his tongue with a cord?(d)

Can you place a ring in his nose, or bore through his jaw with an arm band?

Will he offer many prayers to you, or speak to you quietly?

Will he form a covenant with you, and will you accept him as a servant forever?

Will you play with him as with a bird, or tether him for your handmaids?

Will your friends cut him into pieces, will dealers distribute him?

Will you fill up bags with his hide, and let his head be used as a home for fishes?

Place your hand upon him; remember the battle and speak no more.

Behold, his hope will fail him, and in the sight of all, he will be thrown down.

Fußnoten

(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)

Moreover the LORD answered Job,

“Shall he who argues contend with the Almighty? He who argues with God, let him answer it.”

Job's answer to God

Then Job answered the LORD,

“Behold, I am of small account. What will I answer you? I lay my hand on my mouth.

I have spoken once, and I will not answer; Yes, twice, but I will proceed no further.”

God's challenge to Job

Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind:

“Now brace yourself like a man. I will question you, and you will answer me.

Will you even annul my judgment? Will you condemn me, that you may be justified?

Or do you have an arm like God? Can you thunder with a voice like him?

“Now deck yourself with excellency and dignity. Array yourself with honor and majesty.

Pour out the fury of your anger. Look at everyone who is proud, and bring him low.

Look at everyone who is proud, and humble him. Crush the wicked in their place.

Hide them in the dust together. Bind their faces in the hidden place.

Then I will also admit to you that your own right hand can save you.

“See now behemoth, which I made as well as you. He eats grass as an ox.

Look now, his strength is in his thighs. His force is in the muscles of his belly.

He moves his tail like a cedar. The sinews of his thighs are knit together.

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

He is the chief of the ways of God. He who made him gives him his sword.

Surely the mountains produce food for him, where all the animals of the field play.

He lies under the lotus trees, in the covert of the reed, and the marsh.

The lotuses cover him with their shade. The willows of the brook surround him.

Behold, if a river overflows, he doesn’t tremble. He is confident, though the Jordan swells even to his mouth.

Shall any take him when he is on the watch, or pierce through his nose with a snare?