1 M oreover Yahweh answered Job,

Then the Lord said to Job,

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

“Will the faultfinder contend with the Almighty? Let him who reproves God answer it.”

3 T hen Job answered Yahweh,

Then Job answered the Lord and said,

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

“Behold, I am insignificant; what can I reply to You? I lay my hand on my mouth.

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

“Once I have spoken, and I will not answer; Even twice, and I will add nothing more.” God Questions Job

6 T hen Yahweh answered Job out of the whirlwind,

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

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

“Now gird up your loins like a man; I will ask you, and you instruct Me.

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

“Will you really annul My judgment? Will you condemn Me that you may be justified?

9 O r do you have an arm like God? Can you thunder with a voice like him?

“Or do you have an arm like God, And can you thunder with a voice like His?

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

“ Adorn yourself with eminence and dignity, And clothe yourself with honor and majesty.

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

“Pour out the overflowings of your anger, And look on everyone who is proud, and make him low.

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

“Look on everyone who is proud, and humble him, And tread down the wicked where they stand.

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

“ Hide them in the dust together; Bind them in the hidden place.

14 T hen I will also admit to you that your own right hand can save you.

“Then I will also confess to you, That your own right hand can save you. God’s Power Shown in Creatures

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

“Behold now, Behemoth, which I made as well as you; He eats grass like an ox.

16 L ook now, his strength is in his thighs. His force is in the muscles of his belly.

“Behold now, his strength in his loins And his power in the muscles of his belly.

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

“He bends his tail like a cedar; The sinews of his thighs are knit together.

18 H is bones are like tubes of brass. His limbs are like bars of iron.

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

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

“He is the first of the ways of God; Let his maker bring near his sword.

20 S urely the mountains produce food for him, where all the animals of the field play.

“Surely the mountains bring him food, And all the beasts of the field play there.

21 H e lies under the lotus trees, in the covert of the reed, and the marsh.

“Under the lotus plants he lies down, In the covert of the reeds and the marsh.

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

“The lotus plants cover him with shade; The willows of the brook surround him.

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

“If a river rages, he is not alarmed; He is confident, though the Jordan rushes to his mouth.

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

“Can anyone capture him when he is on watch, With barbs can anyone pierce his nose?