1 Wilt thou draw out the leviathan with the hook, and press down his tongue with a cord?
2 Wilt thou put a rush-rope into his nose, and pierce his jaw with a spike?
3 Will he make many supplications unto thee? or will he speak softly unto thee?
4 Will he make a covenant with thee? wilt thou take him as a bondman for ever?
5 Wilt thou play with him as with a bird, and wilt thou bind him for thy maidens?
6 Shall partners make traffic of him, will they divide him among merchants?
7 Wilt thou fill his skin with darts, and his head with fish-spears?
8 Lay thy hand upon him; remember the battle, -do no more!
9 Lo, hope as to him is belied: is not one cast down even at the sight of him?
10 None is so bold as to stir him up; and who is he that will stand before me?
11 Who hath first given to me, that I should repay {him}? {Whatsoever is} under the whole heaven is mine.
12 I will not be silent as to his parts, the story of his power, and the beauty of his structure.
13 Who can uncover the surface of his garment? who can come within his double jaws?
14 Who can open the doors of his face? Round about his teeth is terror.
15 The rows of his shields are a pride, shut up together {as with} a close seal.
16 One is so near to another that no air can come between them;
17 They are joined each to its fellow; they stick together, and cannot be sundered.
18 His sneezings flash light, and his eyes are like the eyelids of the morning.
19 Out of his mouth go forth flames; sparks of fire leap out:
20 Out of his nostrils goeth smoke, as out of a boiling pot and cauldron.
21 His breath kindleth coals, and a flame goeth out of his mouth.
22 In his neck lodgeth strength, and terror danceth before him.
23 The flakes of his flesh are joined together: they are fused upon him, they cannot be moved.
24 His heart is firm as a stone, yea, firm as the nether {millstone}.
25 When he raiseth himself up, the mighty are afraid: they are beside themselves with consternation.
26 If any reach him with a sword, it cannot hold; neither spear, nor dart, nor harpoon.
27 He esteemeth iron as straw, bronze as rotten wood.
28 The arrow will not make him flee; slingstones are turned with him into stubble.
29 Clubs are counted as stubble; he laugheth at the shaking of a javelin.
30 His under parts are sharp potsherds: he spreadeth a threshing-sledge upon the mire.
31 He maketh the deep to boil like a pot; he maketh the sea like a pot of ointment;
32 He maketh the path to shine after him: one would think the deep to be hoary.
33 Upon earth there is not his like, who is made without fear.
34 He beholdeth all high things; he is king over all the proud beasts.
1 Ingen er så djerv at han tør tirre den; hvem tør da sette sig op imot mig?
2 Hvem gav mig noget først, så jeg skulde gi ham vederlag? Alt under himmelen hører mig til.
3 Jeg vil ikke tie om dens lemmer, om dens store styrke og dens fagre bygning.
4 Hvem har dradd dens klædning av? Hvem tør komme innenfor dens dobbelte rad av tenner?
5 Hvem har åpnet dens kjevers dør? Rundt om dens tenner er redsel.
6 Stolte er skjoldenes rader; hvert av dem er tillukket som med et fast segl.
7 De ligger tett innpå hverandre, og ingen luft trenger inn imellem dem.
8 Det ene skjold henger fast ved det andre; de griper inn i hverandre og skilles ikke at.
9 Når den nyser, stråler det frem lys, og dens øine er som morgenrødens øielokk.
10 Bluss farer ut av dens gap, gnister spruter frem.
11 Fra dens nesebor kommer røk som av en gryte som koker over siv.
12 Dens ånde tender kull i brand, og luer går ut av dens gap.
13 På dens hals har styrken sin bolig, og angsten springer foran den.
14 Dens doglapper sitter fast; de er som støpt på den og rører sig ikke.
15 Dens hjerte er fast som sten, fast som den underste kvernsten.
16 Når den hever sig, gruer helter; av redsel mister de sans og samling.
17 Rammes den med sverd, så biter det ikke på den, heller ikke lanse, pil eller kastespyd.
18 Den akter jern som strå, kobber som ormstukket tre.
19 Buens sønn* jager den ikke på flukt; slyngens stener blir som halm for den. / {* pilen.}
20 Stridsklubber aktes som halm, og den ler av det susende spyd.
21 På dens buk sitter skarpe skår, den gjør spor i dyndet som efter en treskeslede.
22 Den får dypet til å koke som en gryte; den får havet til å skumme som en salvekokers kjele.
23 Efter den lyser dens sti; dypet synes å ha sølvhår.
24 Det er intet på jorden som er herre over den; den er skapt til ikke å reddes.
25 Alt som er høit, ser den i øiet; den er en konge over alle stolte dyr.