Job 40

1 The LORD continued his response to Job by saying:ISV — Job 40:1

2 “Should the one who is fighting the Almighty find fault with him? ^{a40:2 The Heb. lacks him} Let God’s accuser answer.”ISV — Job 40:2

3 Then Job replied to the LORD. He said:ISV — Job 40:3

4 “I must look insignificant to you! How can I answer you? I’m speechless. ^{b40:4 Lit. I put my hand over my mouth}ISV — Job 40:4

5 I spoke once, but I can’t answer; I tried ^{c40:5 The Heb. lacks tried} a second time, but I won’t do so anymore.”ISV — Job 40:5

6 The LORD answered Job from the wind storm and told him:ISV — Job 40:6

7 “Stand up ^{d40:7 Lit. Gird up your loins} like a man! I’ll ask you some questions, and you give me some answers!ISV — Job 40:7

8 Indeed would you annul my justice and condemn me, just so you can claim that you’re righteous?ISV — Job 40:8

9 Do you have strength ^{e40:9 Lit. have an arm} like God? Can you create thunder with a sound ^{f40:9 Lit. voice} like he can?”ISV — Job 40:9

10 “When you have adorned yourself with exalted majesty, clothed yourself with splendor and dignity, ^{g40:10 Lit. splendor and majesty}ISV — Job 40:10

11 dispensed the fury of your anger, made sure ^{h40:11 Lit. see} that you have humbled every proud person,ISV — Job 40:11

12 stared down and subdued every proud person, trampled the wicked right where they are,ISV — Job 40:12

13 buried ^{i40:13 MT has hide} them in the dust together, and sent them bound to that secret place, ^{j40:13 i.e. the afterlife}ISV — Job 40:13

14 then I will applaud you myself! I’ll admit that you can deliver yourself by your own efforts!”ISV — Job 40:14

15 “Please observe ^{k40:15 Lit. look} Behemoth, ^{l40:15 i.e. an ancient, gigantic herbivore, living in Job’s time but now apparently extinct} which I made along with you. He eats grass like an ox.ISV — Job 40:15

16 Now take a look at the strength that he has in his loins, and in the muscles of his abdomen.ISV — Job 40:16

17 His tail protrudes stiffly, like cedar; ^{m40:17 i.e. a genus of coniferous evergreen in the family Pinaceae} the sinews of his thigh interlink for strength.ISV — Job 40:17

18 His bones are conduits ^{n40:18 Or channels} of bronze; ^{o40:18 Or copper} his strong bones are like bars of iron.ISV — Job 40:18

19 He is the grandest ^{p40:19 Or first} of God’s undertakings, ^{q40:19 Lit. ways} yet his creator is approaching him with his sword. ^{r40:19 i.e. God was about to make Behemoth extinct} ISV — Job 40:19

20 Mountains produce food for him, where all the wild animals frolic.ISV — Job 40:20

21 He lies under the lotus trees, hiding under reeds and marshes. ^{s40:21 Lit. reed and marsh}ISV — Job 40:21

22 The lotus trees cover him with their shade, and willows that line the wadis ^{t40:22 i.e. seasonal streams that channel water during rain seasons but are dry at other times} surround him.ISV — Job 40:22

23 What you see as a raging river doesn’t alarm him; he is confident when the Jordan overflows.ISV — Job 40:23

24 Are your eyes looking to capture him, or to pierce his snout with a bridle?”ISV — Job 40:24