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40. The Lord Speaks to Job

    ² “Will the one who contends with the Almighty correct him?
   Let him who accuses God answer him!”

    ³ Then Job answered the LORD:

    ⁴ “I am unworthy—how can I reply to you?
   I put my hand over my mouth.
⁵ I spoke once, but I have no answer—
   twice, but I will say no more.”

    ⁶ Then the LORD spoke to Job out of the storm:

    ⁷ “Brace yourself like a man;
   I will question you,
   and you shall answer me.

    ⁸ “Would you discredit my justice?
   Would you condemn me to justify yourself?
⁹ Do you have an arm like God’s,
   and can your voice thunder like his?
¹⁰ Then adorn yourself with glory and splendor,
   and clothe yourself in honor and majesty.
¹¹ Unleash the fury of your wrath,
   look at all who are proud and bring them low,
¹² look at all who are proud and humble them,
   crush the wicked where they stand.
¹³ Bury them all in the dust together;
   shroud their faces in the grave.
¹⁴ Then I myself will admit to you
   that your own right hand can save you.

    ¹⁵ “Look at Behemoth,
   which I made along with you
   and which feeds on grass like an ox.
¹⁶ What strength it has in its loins,
   what power in the muscles of its belly!
¹⁷ Its tail sways like a cedar;
   the sinews of its thighs are close-knit.
¹⁸ Its bones are tubes of bronze,
   its limbs like rods of iron.
¹⁹ It ranks first among the works of God,
   yet its Maker can approach it with his sword.
²⁰ The hills bring it their produce,
   and all the wild animals play nearby.
²¹ Under the lotus plants it lies,
   hidden among the reeds in the marsh.
²² The lotuses conceal it in their shadow;
   the poplars by the stream surround it.
²³ A raging river does not alarm it;
   it is secure, though the Jordan should surge against its mouth.
²⁴ Can anyone capture it by the eyes,
   or trap it and pierce its nose?