1 “ Can you draw out Leviathan with a hook, Or snare his tongue with a line which you lower?

2 C an you put a reed through his nose, Or pierce his jaw with a hook?

3 W ill he make many supplications to you? Will he speak softly to you?

4 W ill he make a covenant with you? Will you take him as a servant forever?

5 W ill you play with him as with a bird, Or will you leash him for your maidens?

6 W ill your companions make a banquet of him? Will they apportion him among the merchants?

7 C an you fill his skin with harpoons, Or his head with fishing spears?

8 L ay your hand on him; Remember the battle— Never do it again!

9 I ndeed, any hope of overcoming him is false; Shall one not be overwhelmed at the sight of him?

10 N o one is so fierce that he would dare stir him up. Who then is able to stand against Me?

11 W ho has preceded Me, that I should pay him? Everything under heaven is Mine.

12 “ I will not conceal his limbs, His mighty power, or his graceful proportions.

13 W ho can remove his outer coat? Who can approach him with a double bridle?

14 W ho can open the doors of his face, With his terrible teeth all around?

15 H is rows of scales are his pride, Shut up tightly as with a seal;

16 O ne is so near another That no air can come between them;

17 T hey are joined one to another, They stick together and cannot be parted.

18 H is sneezings flash forth light, And his eyes are like the eyelids of the morning.

19 O ut of his mouth go burning lights; Sparks of fire shoot out.

20 S moke goes out of his nostrils, As from a boiling pot and burning rushes.

21 H is breath kindles coals, And a flame goes out of his mouth.

22 S trength dwells in his neck, And sorrow dances before him.

23 T he folds of his flesh are joined together; They are firm on him and cannot be moved.

24 H is heart is as hard as stone, Even as hard as the lower millstone.

25 W hen he raises himself up, the mighty are afraid; Because of his crashings they are beside themselves.

26 T hough the sword reaches him, it cannot avail; Nor does spear, dart, or javelin.

27 H e regards iron as straw, And bronze as rotten wood.

28 T he arrow cannot make him flee; Slingstones become like stubble to him.

29 D arts are regarded as straw; He laughs at the threat of javelins.

30 H is undersides are like sharp potsherds; He spreads pointed marks in the mire.

31 H e makes the deep boil like a pot; He makes the sea like a pot of ointment.

32 H e leaves a shining wake behind him; One would think the deep had white hair.

33 O n earth there is nothing like him, Which is made without fear.

34 H e beholds every high thing; He is king over all the children of pride.”