The Book of Job

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- Chapter 40 -

Yahweh continued to speak to Job; he said,

“Should anyone who wishes to criticize try to correct the Almighty? He who argues with God, let him answer.”

Job's answer to God

Then Job answered Yahweh and said,

“See, I am insignificant; how can I answer you? I put my hand over my mouth.

I spoke once, and I will not answer; indeed, twice, but I will proceed no further.”

God's challenge to Job

Then Yahweh answered Job out of a fierce storm and said,

“Now gird up your loins like a man, for I will ask you questions, and you must answer me.

Will you actually say that I am unjust? Will you condemn me so you may claim you are right?

Do you have an arm like God’s? Can you thunder with a voice like him?

Now clothe yourself in glory and dignity; array yourself in honor and majesty.

Scatter around the excess of your anger; look at everyone who is proud and bring him down.

Look at everyone who is proud and bring him low; trample down wicked people where they stand.

Bury them in the earth together; imprison their faces in the hidden place.

Then will I also acknowledge about you that your own right hand can save you.

Look now at the behemoth, which I made as well as I made you; he eats grass like an ox.

See now, his strength is in his loins; his power is in his belly’s muscles.

He makes his tail like a cedar; the sinews of his thighs are joined together.

His bones are like tubes of bronze; his legs are like bars of iron.

He is the chief of the creatures of God. Only God, who made him, can defeat him.

For the hills provide him with food; the beasts of the field play nearby.

He lies under the lotus plants in the shelter of the reeds, in the marshes.

The lotus plants cover him with their shade; the willows of the brook are all around him.

See, if a river floods its banks, he does not tremble; he is confident, though the Jordan should surge up to his mouth.

Can anyone capture him with a hook, or pierce his nose through with a snare?

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?