Job 40

1 Moreover the Lord*Job 38:1answered Job, and said:

2 "Shall *Job 9:3; 10:2; 33:13the one who contends with the Almighty correct Him?

He who *Job 13:3; 23:4rebukes God, let him answer it."

Job’s Response to God

3 Then Job answered the Lord and said:

4 "Behold,*Ezra 9:6; Job 42:6 I am vile;

What shall I answer You?

*Job 29:9; Ps. 39:9I lay my hand over my mouth.

5 Once I have spoken, but I will not answer;

Yes, twice, but I will proceed no further."

God’s Challenge to Job

6 *Job 38:1Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said:

7 "Now*Job 38:3 prepare yourself like a man;

*Job 42:4I will question you, and you shall answer Me:

8 "Would*Job 16:11; 19:6; (Ps. 51:4; Rom. 3:4) you indeed annul My judgment?

Would you condemn Me that you may be justified?

9 Have you an arm like God?

Or can you thunder with *Job 37:4; (Ps. 29:3, 4)a voice like His?

10 *Ps. 93:1; 104:1Then adorn yourself with majesty and splendor,

And array yourself with glory and beauty.

11 Disperse the rage of your wrath;

Look on everyone whois proud, and humble him.

12 Look on everyone whois*1 Sam. 2:7; (Is. 2:12; 13:11); Dan. 4:37proud, and bring him low;

Tread down the wicked in their place.

13 Hide them in the dust together,

Bind their faces in hidden darkness.

14 Then I will also confess to you

That your own right hand can save you.

15 "Look now at the behemoth, which I made along with you;

He eats grass like an ox.

16 See now, his strength is in his hips,

And his power is in his stomach muscles.

17 He moves his tail like a cedar;

The sinews of his thighs are tightly knit.

18 His bones arelike beams of bronze,

His ribs like bars of iron.

19 He is the first of the *Job 26:14ways of God;

Only He who made him can bring near His sword.

20 Surely the mountains *Ps. 104:14yield food for him,

And all the beasts of the field play there.

21 He lies under the lotus trees,

In a covert of reeds and marsh.

22 The lotus trees cover him with their shade;

The willows by the brook surround him.

23 Indeed the river may rage,

Yet he is not disturbed;

He is confident, though the Jordan gushes into his mouth,

24 Though he takes it in his eyes,

Or one pierces his nose with a snare.