Job 40:1-24

40  And Yahweh responded to Job and said:—  Shall a reprover contend with the Almighty? He that disputeth with God let him answer it!  Then Job responded to Yahweh and said:—  Lo! I am of no account, what shall I reply to thee? My hand have I laid on my mouth:  Once have I spoken, but I will not proceed, Yea twice but I will not add.  So then Yahweh responded to Job out of a storm and said:—  Gird, I pray thee—as a strong man—thy loins, I will ask thee, and inform thou me.  Wilt thou even frustrate my justice? Wilt thou condemn me that thou mayest appear right?  But if an arm like God thou hast, And with a voice like his thou canst thunder 10  Deck thyself, I pray thee, with majesty and grandeur, Yea with dignity and splendour thou shalt clothe thyself; 11  Pour out thy transports of anger, And look on every one who is high and lay him low; 12  Look on every one who is high and humble him, Yea tread down the lawless on the spot: 13  Hide them in the dust all together, Their faces bind thou in darkness; 14  And even I myself will praise thee, In that thine own right hand can bring thee salvation. 15  Behold, I pray thee, the Hippopotamus, which I made with thee, Grass—like the ox he eateth; 16  Behold, I pray thee, his strength in his loins, And his force in the muscles of his belly; 17  He bendeth down his tail like a cedar, The sinews of his thighs are twisted together; 18  His bones are barrels of bronze, His frame is like hammered bars of iron: 19  He is the beginning of the ways of God, Let his maker present him his sword: 20  Surely the mountains bring produce to him, Where all the wild beasts of the field do play; 21  Under the lotus-trees he lieth down, In a covert of reed and swamp; 22  The lotus-trees cover him with their shade, The willows of the torrent-bed compass him about; 23  Lo! the river becometh insolent—he is not alarmed! He is confident though a Jordan burst forth to his mouth: 24  Before his eyes shall he be caught? With a hook can one pierce his nose?

Footnotes