1 Il n'y a point d'homme assez courageux pour le réveiller; qui est-ce donc qui se présentera devant moi?

2 Qui est-ce qui m'a prévenu, et je [le] lui rendrai? Ce qui est sous tous les cieux est à moi.

3 Je ne me tairai point de ses membres, ni de ce qui concerne ses forces, ni de la grâce de l'arrangement [des parties de son corps].

4 Qui est-ce qui découvrira le dessus de sa couverture, et se jettera entre les deux branches de son mors?

5 Qui est-ce qui ouvrira les portes de sa gueule? La terreur se tient autour de ses dents.

6 Les lames de ses boucliers ne sont que magnificence; elles sont étroitement serrées [comme] avec un cachet.

7 L'une approche de l'autre, et le vent n'entre point entre-deux.

8 Elles sont jointes l'une à l'autre, elles s'entretiennent, et ne se séparent point.

9 Ses éternuements éclaireraient la lumière, et ses yeux sont [comme] les paupières de l'aube du jour.

10 Des flambeaux sortent de sa bouche, et il en rejaillit des étincelles de feu.

11 Une fumée sort de ses narines comme d'un pot bouillant, ou d'une chaudière.

12 Son souffle enflammerait des charbons, et une flamme sort de sa gueule.

13 La force est dans son cou, et la terreur marche devant lui.

14 Sa chair est ferme, tout est massif en lui, rien n'y branle.

15 Son cœur est dur comme une pierre, même comme une pièce de la meule de dessous.

16 Les plus forts tremblent quand il s'élève, et ils ne savent où ils en sont, voyant comme il rompt tout.

17 Qui s'en approchera avec l'épée? ni elle, ni la lance, ni le dard, ni la cuirasse, ne pourront point subsister [devant lui].

18 Il ne tient pas plus de compte du fer que de la paille; et de l'airain, que du bois pourri.

19 La flèche ne le fera point fuir, les pierres d'une fronde lui sont comme du chaume.

20 Il tient les machines de guerre comme des brins de chaume; et il se moque du javelot qu'on lance sur lui.

21 Il a sous soi des tests aigus, et il abat [sous soi] des roseaux pointus [en se couchant] sur la boue.

22 Il fait bouillonner le gouffre comme une chaudière, et rend semblable la mer à un chaudron de parfumeur.

23 Il fait reluire après soi son sentier, et on prendrait l'abîme pour une tête blanchie de vieillesse.

24 Il n'y a rien sur la terre qui lui puisse être comparé, ayant été fait pour ne rien craindre.

25 Il voit [au-dessous de lui] tout ce qu'il y a de plus élevé; il est Roi sur tous les plus fiers animaux.

1 Can you draw out leviathan with a hook? or his tongue with a cord which you let down?

2 Can you put a rope in his nose? or pierce his jaw through with a hook?

3 Will he make many supplications unto you? will he speak soft words unto you?

4 Will he make a covenant with you? will you take him for a servant forever?

5 Will you play with him as with a bird? or will you leash him for your maidens?

6 Shall your companions make a banquet of him? shall they apportion him among the merchants?

7 Can you fill his skin with harpoons? or his head with fish spears?

8 Lay your hand upon him, remember the battle, do no more.

9 Behold, the hope of subduing him is in vain: shall one not be cast down even at the sight of him?

10 None is so fierce that would dare stir him up: who then is able to stand before me?

11 Who has given to me, that I should repay him? whatsoever is under the whole heaven is mine.

12 I will not conceal his limbs, nor his power, nor his graceful proportion.

13 Who can remove the face of his garment? or who can approach him with a double bridle?

14 Who can open the doors of his face? his teeth are terrible all around.

15 His scales are his 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 one to another, they stick together, that they cannot be parted.

18 By his sneezings a light flashes, and his eyes are like the eyelids of the morning.

19 Out of his mouth go burning lamps, and sparks of fire leap out.

20 Out of his nostrils goes smoke, as out of a boiling pot or caldron.

21 His breath kindles coals, and a flame goes out of his mouth.

22 In his neck remains strength, and sorrow is turned into dancing before him.

23 The folds of his flesh are joined together: they are firm on him; they cannot be moved.

24 His heart is as firm as a stone; yea, as hard as a piece of the lower millstone.

25 When he raises up himself, the mighty are afraid: because of his crashings they are beside themselves.

26 The sword of him that reaches him cannot avail: neither the spear, the dart, nor the javelin.

27 He regards iron as straw, and bronze as rotten wood.

28 The arrow cannot make him flee: clingstones with him are turned into stubble.

29 Darts are counted as straw: he laughs at the threat of a javelin.

30 His undersides are like sharp stones: he spreads sharp pointed marks upon the mire.

31 He makes the deep boil like a pot: he makes the sea like a pot of ointment.

32 He leaves a path shining after him; one would think the deep to have white hair.

33 Upon earth there is not his like, which is made without fear.

34 He beholds every high thing: he is a king over all the children of pride.