* 1 I am the Lord All-Powerful,

2 but you have argued

that I am wrong.

Now you must answer me.

3 Job said to the Lord:

4 Who am I to answer you?

5 I did speak once or twice,

but never again.

6 Then out of the storm

the Lord said to Job:

7 Face me and answer

the questions I ask!

8 Are you trying to prove

that you are innocent

by accusing me of injustice?

9 Do you have a powerful arm

and a thundering voice

that compare with mine?

10 If so, then surround yourself

with glory and majesty.

* 11 Show your furious anger!

Throw down and crush

12 all who are proud and evil.

13 Wrap them in grave clothes

and bury them together

in the dusty soil.

14 Do this, and I will agree

that you have won

this argument.

15 I created both you

and the hippopotamus.*

It eats only grass like an ox,

16 but look at the mighty muscles

in its body 17 and legs.

Its tail is like a cedar tree,

and its thighs are thick.

18 The bones in its legs

are like bronze or iron.

19 I made it more powerful

than any other creature,

yet I am stronger still.

20 Undisturbed, it eats grass

while the other animals

play nearby.*

* 21 It rests in the shade of trees

along the riverbank

22 or hides among reeds

in the swamp.

23 It remains calm and unafraid

with the Jordan River rushing

and splashing in its face.

24 There is no way to capture

a hippopotamus—

not even by hooking its nose

or blinding its eyes.