The Lord Challenges Job Again
40 The Lord continued his response to Job by saying:
2 “Should the one who is fighting the Almighty find fault with him?
Let God’s accuser answer.”
Job Acknowledges His Limitations
3 Then Job replied to the Lord. He said:
4 “I must look insignificant to you!
How can I answer you?
I’m speechless.
5 I spoke once,
but I can’t answer;
I tried a second time,
but I won’t do so anymore.”
The Lord Continues to Interrogate Job
6 The Lord answered Job from the wind storm and told him:
7 “Stand up like a man!
I’ll ask you some questions,
and you give me some answers!
8 Indeed would you annul my justice and condemn me,
just so you can claim that you’re righteous?
9 Do you have strength like God?
Can you create thunder with a sound like he can?”
Can You Save Yourself?
10 “When you have adorned yourself with exalted majesty,
clothed yourself with splendor and dignity,
11 dispensed the fury of your anger,
made sure that you have humbled every proud person,
12 stared down and subdued every proud person,
trampled the wicked right where they are,
13 buried them in the dust together,
and sent them bound to that secret place,
14 then I will applaud you myself!
I’ll admit that you can deliver yourself by your own efforts!”
On Behemoth
15 “Please observe Behemoth, which I made along with you.
He eats grass like an ox.
16 Now take a look at the strength that he has in his loins,
and in the muscles of his abdomen.
17 His tail protrudes stiffly, like cedar;
the sinews of his thigh interlink for strength.
18 His bones are conduits of bronze;
his strong bones are like bars of iron.
19 He is the grandest of God’s undertakings,
yet his creator is approaching him with his sword.
20 Mountains produce food for him,
where all the wild animals frolic.
21 He lies under the lotus trees,
hiding under reeds and marshes.
22 The lotus trees cover him with their shade,
and willows that line the wadis surround him.
23 What you see as a raging river doesn’t alarm him;
he is confident when the Jordan overflows.
24 Are your eyes looking to capture him,
or to pierce his snout with a bridle?”
Footnotes
- Job 40:2
- Job 40:4
- Job 40:5
- Job 40:7
- Job 40:9
- Job 40:9
- Job 40:10
- Job 40:11
- Job 40:13
- Job 40:13
- Job 40:15
- Job 40:15
- Job 40:17
- Job 40:18
- Job 40:18
- Job 40:19
- Job 40:19
- Job 40:19
- Job 40:21
- Job 40:22
