Chapter 40

Job Humbles Himself before the LORD

¹And the LORD said to Job:

²“Will the faultfinder contend with the Almighty?

Let him who argues with God give an answer.”

³Then Job answered the LORD:

⁴“Behold, I am insignificant. How can I reply to You?

I place my hand over my mouth.

⁵I have spoken once, but I have no answer—

twice, but I have nothing to add.”

The LORD Challenges Job Again

⁶Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said:

⁷“Now brace yourself^a like a man;

I will question you, and you shall inform Me.^b

⁸Would you really annul My justice?

Would you condemn Me to justify yourself?

⁹Do you have an arm like God’s?

Can you thunder with a voice like His?

¹⁰Then adorn yourself with majesty and splendor,

and clothe yourself with honor and glory.

¹¹Unleash the fury of your wrath;

look on every proud man and bring him low.

¹²Look on every proud man and humble him;

trample the wicked where they stand.

¹³Bury them together in the dust;

imprison them in the grave.^c

¹⁴Then I will confess to you

that your own right hand can save you.

¹⁵Look at Behemoth, which I made along with you.

He feeds on grass like an ox.

¹⁶See the strength of his loins

and the power in the muscles of his belly.

¹⁷His tail sways like a cedar;

the sinews of his thighs are tightly knit.

¹⁸His bones are tubes of bronze;

his limbs are rods of iron.

¹⁹He is the foremost of God’s works;^d

only his Maker can draw the sword against him.

²⁰The hills yield him their produce,

while all the beasts of the field play nearby.

²¹He lies under the lotus plants,^e

hidden among the reeds of the marsh.

²²The lotus plants conceal him in their shade;

the willows^f of the brook surround him.

²³Though the river rages, Behemoth is unafraid;

he remains secure, though the Jordan surges to his mouth.

²⁴Can anyone capture him as he looks on,

or pierce his nose with a snare?