Bible Browser

40And the Lord said to Job: ²“Shall a faultfinder contend with the Almighty? Anyone who argues with God must respond.” ³Then Job answered the Lord: ⁴“See, I am of small account; what shall I answer you? I lay my hand on my mouth. ⁵I have spoken once, and I will not answer; twice, but will proceed no further.”

⁶Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind: ⁷“Gird up your loins like a man; I will question you, and you declare to me. ⁸Will you even put me in the wrong? Will you condemn me that you may be justified? ⁹Have you an arm like God, and can you thunder with a voice like his?

¹⁵“Look at Behemoth, which I made just as I made you; it eats grass like an ox. ¹⁶Its strength is in its loins, and its power in the muscles of its belly. ¹⁹“It is the first of the great acts of God— only its Maker can approach it with the sword. ²⁰For the mountains yield food for it where all the wild animals play. ²³Even if the river is turbulent, it is not frightened; it is confident though Jordan rushes against its mouth. ²⁴Can one take it with hooks or pierce its nose with a snare?

41“Can you draw out Leviathan with a fishhook, or press down its tongue with a cord? ²Can you put a rope in its nose, or pierce its jaw with a hook? ³Will it make many supplications to you? Will it speak soft words to you? ⁴Will it make a covenant with you to be taken as your servant forever? ⁵Will you play with it as with a bird, or will you put it on leash for your girls? ⁶Will traders bargain over it? Will they divide it up among the merchants? ⁷Can you fill its skin with harpoons, or its head with fishing spears? ⁸Lay hands on it; think of the battle; you will not do it again! ³³On earth it has no equal, a creature without fear. ³⁴It surveys everything that is lofty; it is king over all that are proud.”

42Then Job answered the Lord: ²“I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.