1. |
Then the Lord made answer to Job out of the storm-wind, and said, |
2. |
Get your strength together like a man of war: I will put questions to you, and you will give me the answers. |
3. |
Will you even make my right of no value? will you say that I am wrong in order to make clear that you are right? |
4. |
Have you an arm like God? have you a voice of thunder like his? |
5. |
Put on the ornaments of your pride; be clothed with glory and power: |
6. |
Let your wrath be overflowing; let your eyes see all the sons of pride, and make them low. |
7. |
Send destruction on all who are lifted up, pulling down the sinners from their places. |
8. |
Let them be covered together in the dust; let their faces be dark in the secret place of the underworld. |
9. |
Then I will give praise to you, saying that your right hand is able to give you salvation. |
10. |
See now the Great Beast, whom I made, even as I made you; he takes grass for food, like the ox. |
11. |
His strength is in his body, and his force in the muscles of his stomach. |
12. |
His tail is curving like a cedar; the muscles of his legs are joined together. |
13. |
His bones are pipes of brass, his legs are like rods of iron. |
14. |
He is the chief of the ways of God, made by him for his pleasure. |
15. |
He takes the produce of the mountains, where all the beasts of the field are at play. |
16. |
He takes his rest under the trees of the river, and in the pool, under the shade of the water-plants. |
17. |
He is covered by the branches of the trees; the grasses of the stream are round him. |
18. |
Truly, if the river is overflowing, it gives him no cause for fear; he has no sense of danger, even if Jordan is rushing against his mouth. |
19. |
Will anyone take him when he is on the watch, or put metal teeth through his nose? |
20. |
Is it possible for Leviathan to be pulled out with a fish-hook, or for a hook to be put through the bone of his mouth? |
21. |
Will you put a cord into his nose, or take him away with a cord round his tongue? |
22. |
Will he make prayers to you, or say soft words to you? |
23. |
Will he make an agreement with you, so that you may take him as a servant for ever? |
24. |
Will you make sport with him, as with a bird? or put him in chains for your young women? |
25. |
Will the fishermen make profit out of him? will they have him cut up for the traders? |
26. |
Will you put sharp-pointed irons into his skin, or fish-spears into his head? |
27. |
Only put your hand on him, and see what a fight you will have; you will not do it again! |
28. |
Truly, the hope of his attacker is false; he is overcome even on seeing him! |