1 M oreover the Lord answered Job, and said:

Then the Lord said to Job,

2 “ Shall the one who contends with the Almighty correct Him? He who rebukes God, let him answer it.” Job’s Response to God

“Will one who finds fault not agree with the All-powerful? He who speaks strong words against God, let him answer.”

3 T hen Job answered the Lord and said:

Job answered the Lord and said,

4 “ Behold, I am vile; What shall I answer You? I lay my hand over my mouth.

“See, I am not important. What can I answer You? I put my hand on my mouth.

5 O nce I have spoken, but I will not answer; Yes, twice, but I will proceed no further.” God’s Challenge to Job

I have spoken once, and I cannot answer; even twice, and I have no more to say.”

6 T hen the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said:

Then the Lord answered out of the storm, and said,

7 “ Now prepare yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer Me:

“Get ready like a man. I will ask you, and you answer Me.

8 “ Would you indeed annul My judgment? Would you condemn Me that you may be justified?

Will you say what I decide is wrong? Will you say that I have done wrong, that you may be made right?

9 H ave you an arm like God? Or can you thunder with a voice like His?

Do you have an arm like God? Can you thunder with a voice like His?

10 T hen adorn yourself with majesty and splendor, And array yourself with glory and beauty.

“Dress yourself with shining-greatness and great power. Cover yourself with honor and greatness.

11 D isperse the rage of your wrath; Look on everyone who is proud, and humble him.

Pour out your anger that is flowing over. Look on everyone who is proud, and put him to shame.

12 L ook on everyone who is proud, and bring him low; Tread down the wicked in their place.

Look on everyone who is proud, and bring him down. Crush the sinful where they stand.

13 H ide them in the dust together, Bind their faces in hidden darkness.

Hide them all in the dust together. Shut them up in the hidden place.

14 T hen I will also confess to you That your own right hand can save you.

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

15 “ Look now at the behemoth, which I made along with you; He eats grass like an ox.

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

16 S ee now, his strength is in his hips, And his power is in his stomach muscles.

See, his strength is in his body. His power is in his stomach.

17 H e moves his tail like a cedar; The sinews of his thighs are tightly knit.

He moves his tail like a cedar tree. His legs are made very strong.

18 H is bones are like beams of bronze, His ribs like bars of iron.

His bones are like brass. His legs are like pieces of iron.

19 H e is the first of the ways of God; Only He who made him can bring near His sword.

“He is the first of the works of God. Let his maker bring him his sword.

20 S urely the mountains yield food for him, And all the beasts of the field play there.

For sure the mountains bring food to him where all the animals of the field play.

21 H e lies under the lotus trees, In a covert of reeds and marsh.

He lies down under the lotus plants, hidden in the high river grass.

22 T he lotus trees cover him with their shade; The willows by the brook surround him.

He lies in the shadow of the lotus plants, with the willow trees of the river around him.

23 I ndeed the river may rage, Yet he is not disturbed; He is confident, though the Jordan gushes into his mouth,

If a river flows over, he is not afraid. He is sure of himself even if the Jordan rushes against his mouth.

24 T hough he takes it in his eyes, Or one pierces his nose with a snare.

Can anyone take him when he is watching? Can anyone catch him and put a ring in his nose?