Job 40 · איוב

Then the Lord answered Iyyov, and said,

Shall a reprover contend with the Almighty? he who reproaches God, let him answer it.

Then Iyyov answered the Lord, and said,

Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer Thee? I lay my hand upon my mouth.

Once I have spoken; but I will not answer: yea, twice; but I will proceed no further.

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

Gird up thy loins now like a man: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.

Wilt thou also disavow my judgment? wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayst be in the right?

hast thou an arm like God? or canst thou thunder with a voice like him?

Deck thyself now with majesty and excellency; and array thyself with glory and beauty.

Cast abroad the rage of thy wrath: and behold everyone that is proud, and abase him.

Look on everyone that is proud, and bring him low; and tread down the wicked in their place.

Hide them in the dust together; and bind their faces in the hiding place.

Then I will also confess to thee that thy own right hand can save thee.

Behold now behemot, which I made with thee; he eats grass like an ox.

Lo now, his might is in his loins, and his force is in the muscles of his belly.

He stiffens his tail like a cedar: the sinews of his thighs are knit together.

His bones are tubes of brass; his limbs are like bars of iron.

He is the beginning of the ways of God: let him that made him bring near his sword to him!

Surely the mountains bring him forth food, where all the wild beasts play.

He lies under the thorny bushes, in the cover of the reed, and fens.

The thorny bushes cover him with their shadow; the willows of the brook compass him about.

Behold, he drinks up a river, and hastens not: he trusts that river will thrust some food into his mouth.

Shall anyone take him with his eyes open? or pierce through his nose with a snare?

Canst thou draw out livyatan with a hook? or press down his tongue with a cord?

canst thou put a hook into his nose? or bore his jaw through with a bridle ring?

will he make many supplications to thee? will he speak soft words to thee?

will he make a covenant with thee? to take him for thy servant for ever?

wilt thou play with him as with a bird? or wilt thou bind him for thy girls?

will the tradesmen heap up payment for him? shall they part him among the merchants?

canst thou fill his skin with barbed irons? or his head with fish spears?

Lay thy hand upon him! thou wilt no more think of fighting.