Job 40:1-24

40  And Yahweh responded to Job and said:— 2  Shall a reprover contend with the Almighty? He that disputeth with God let him answer it! 3  Then Job responded to Yahweh and said:— 4  Lo! I am of no account, what shall I reply to thee? My hand have I laid on my mouth: 5  Once have I spoken, but I will not proceed, Yea twice but I will not add. 6  So then Yahweh responded to Job out of a storm and said:— 7  Gird, I pray thee—as a strong man—thy loins, I will ask thee, and inform thou me. 8  Wilt thou even frustrate my justice? Wilt thou condemn me that thou mayest appear right? 9  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?

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