40:1 Then the LORD answered Job and said:

40:2 Will the one who contends¹ with the Almighty
correct him?²
Let him who accuses God answer him.
40:3 Then Job answered the LORD and said:
40:4 Indeed, I am unworthy³—how can I reply to you?
I put⁴ my hand over my mouth.
40:5 Once I have spoken, but I cannot answer;
twice, but I will say no more.⁵

40:6 Then the LORD answered Job from the whirlwind, and said:

40:7 Gird up your loins like a man.
I will question you and you will inform me!
40:8 Would you indeed annul⁷ my justice?
Would you declare me guilty that you might be right?
40:9 Do you have an arm like God’s
and can you thunder with a voice like his?
40:10 Adorn yourself, then, with majesty and excellency,
and clothe yourself with glory and honor!
40:11 Scatter⁸ the abundance⁹ of your wrath.
Look at every proud man¹⁰ and bring him low;
40:12 Look at every proud man and abase him;
crush the wicked on the spot!¹¹
40:13 Hide them in the dust¹² together,
imprison¹³ them¹⁴ in the grave.¹⁵
40:14 Then I myself will acknowledge¹⁶ to you
that your own right hand can save you.¹⁷

40:15 Look now, Behemoth,¹⁹ which I made with you;
he eats grass, like the ox.
40:16 Look²⁰ at his strength in his loins,
and his power in the muscles of his belly.
40:17 He makes his tail stiff²¹ like a cedar,
the sinews of his thighs are knotted;
40:18 His bones are tubes of bronze,
his limbs like bars of iron;
40:19 He ranks first among the works of God,²²
the One who made him
has furnished him with a sword;²³
40:20 For the hills bring him food,²⁴
where all the wild animals play;
40:21 Under the lotus trees he lies,
in the secrecy of the reeds and the marsh;
40:22 The lotus trees conceal him in their²⁵ shadow,
the poplars by the brook conceal him;
40:23 If the river rages,²⁶ he is not disturbed,
he is secure,²⁷ though the Jordan
should surge up to his mouth.
40:24 Can anyone catch him by his eyes,²⁸
or with a snare²⁹ pierce his nose?