Job 40

_1-2Job, you challenged Almighty God;

will you give up now, or will you answer?

_3-4I spoke foolishly, LORD. What can I answer?

I will not try to say anything else.

₅I have already said more than I should.

₇Stand up straight now,

and answer my questions.

₈Are you trying to prove that I am unjust —

to put me in the wrong and yourself in the right?

₉Are you as strong as I am?

Can your voice thunder as loud as mine?

₁₀If so, stand up in your honour and pride;

clothe yourself with majesty and glory.

₁₁Look at those who are proud;

pour out your anger and humble them.

₁₂Yes, look at them and bring them down;

crush the wicked where they stand.

₁₃Bury them all in the ground;

bind them in the world of the dead.

₁₄Then I will be the first to praise you

and admit that you won the victory yourself.

₁₅Look at the monster Behemoth;

I created him and I created you.

He eats grass like a cow,

₁₆but what strength there is in his body,

and what power there is in his muscles!

₁₇His tail stands up like a cedar,

and the muscles in his legs are strong.

₁₈His bones are as strong as bronze,

and his legs are like iron bars.

₁₉The most amazing of all my creatures!

Only his Creator can defeat him.

₂₀Grass to feed him grows

on the hills where wild beasts play.

₂₁He lies down under the thorn bushes,

and hides among the reeds in the swamp.

₂₂The thorn bushes and the willows by the stream

give him shelter in their shade.

₂₃He is not afraid of a rushing river;

he is calm when the Jordan dashes in his face.

₂₄Who can blind his eyes and capture him?

Or who can catch his snout in a trap?