Job Says What Can I Say?
40 Then the Lord said to Job,
2 “Will the faultfinder (A)contend with the Almighty?
Let him who (B)rebukes God [a]give an answer.”
3 Then Job answered the Lord and said,
4 “Behold, I am insignificant; what can I say in response to You?
I (C)put my hand on my mouth.
5 I have spoken once, and (D)I will not reply;
Or twice, and I will add nothing more.”
God Questions Job
6 Then the (E)Lord answered Job from the whirlwind and said,
7 “Now [b](F)tighten the belt on your waist like a man;
I will (G)ask you, and you instruct Me.
8 Will you really (H)nullify My judgment?
Will you (I)condemn Me (J)so that you may be justified?
9 Or do you have an arm like God,
And can you (K)thunder with a voice like His?
10 “(L)Adorn yourself with pride and dignity,
And clothe yourself with honor and majesty.
11 Let out your (M)outbursts of anger,
And look at everyone who is (N)arrogant, and humble him.
12 Look at everyone who is arrogant, and (O)humble him,
And (P)trample down the wicked [c]where they stand.
13 (Q)Hide them together in the dust;
Imprison [d]them in the hidden place.
14 Then I will also [e]confess to you,
That your own right hand can save you.
God’s Power Shown in Creatures
15 “Behold, [f]Behemoth, which (R)I made [g]as well as you;
He eats grass like an ox.
16 Behold, his strength in his waist,
And his power in the muscles of his belly.
17 He hangs his tail like a cedar;
The tendons of his thighs are knit together.
18 His bones are tubes of bronze;
His [h]limbs are like bars of iron.
19 “He is the (S)first of the ways of God;
Let his (T)Maker bring His sword near.
20 Indeed the [i]mountains (U)bring him food,
And all the animals of the field (V)play there.
21 He lies down under the lotus plants,
In the hiding place of the reeds and the marsh.
22 The lotus plants cover him with [j]shade;
The willows of the brook surround him.
23 If a river [k]rages, he is not alarmed;
He is confident, though the (W)Jordan rushes to his mouth.
24 Can anyone capture him [l]when he is on watch,
Can anyone pierce his nose with barbs?
Footnotes
- Job 40:2 Lit answer it
- Job 40:7 I.e., as if for battle
- Job 40:12 Lit under them
- Job 40:13 Lit their faces
- Job 40:14 Or praise you
- Job 40:15 I.e., a powerful animal, possibly a hippopotamus
- Job 40:15 Lit with you
- Job 40:18 Lit bones
- Job 40:20 I.e., the mountain streams
- Job 40:22 Lit his shade
- Job 40:23 Or oppresses
- Job 40:24 Lit in his eyes
Cross references
- Job 40:2 : Job 9:3; 10:2; 33:13; Is 45:9
- Job 40:2 : Job 13:3; 23:4; 31:35
- Job 40:4 : Job 21:5; 29:9
- Job 40:5 : Job 9:3, 15
- Job 40:6 : Job 38:1
- Job 40:7 : Job 38:3
- Job 40:7 : Job 38:3; 42:4
- Job 40:8 : Rom 3:4
- Job 40:8 : Job 10:3, 7; 16:11; 19:6; 27:2
- Job 40:8 : Job 13:18; 27:6
- Job 40:9 : Job 37:5; Ps 29:3
- Job 40:10 : Ps 93:1; 104:1
- Job 40:11 : Is 42:25; Nah 1:6, 8
- Job 40:11 : Is 2:12; Dan 4:37
- Job 40:12 : 1 Sam 2:7; Is 2:12; 13:11; Dan 4:37
- Job 40:12 : Is 63:3
- Job 40:13 : Is 2:10-12
- Job 40:15 : Job 40:19
- Job 40:19 : Job 41:33
- Job 40:19 : Job 40:15
- Job 40:20 : Ps 104:14
- Job 40:20 : Ps 104:26
- Job 40:23 : Gen 13:10