1 *Hebr 12:28f. Ingen är så dumdristig

att han retar honom.

Vem vågar då sätta sig upp

mot mig?

2 *2 Mos 19:5, Ps 24:1, 50:12, Rom 11:35, 1 Kor 10:26. Vem har gett mig något

som jag måste betala igen?

Mitt är allt som finns under himlen.*41:2 Citeras av Paulus i Rom 11:35.

3 Jag vill inte tiga om hans lemmar,

om hans styrka och sköna gestalt.

4 Vem kan rycka av honom hans dräkt?

Vem kan ta sig in

mellan hans båda käkar?*41:4ta sig in mellan hans båda käkarAnnan översättning: "ta sig fram med betsel" eller "ta sig igenom hans dubbla pansar" (så Septuaginta).

5 Vem kan öppna hans ansiktes dörrar?

Runt hans tänder bor skräck.

6 Stolta sitter sköldarnas rader,

sammanfogade och fast förseglade,

7 den ena tätt mot den andra,

ingen luft tränger in däremellan.

8 De sitter fast mot varandra,

de griper in i varandra

och kan inte skiljas åt.

9 När han fnyser blixtrar det av ljus,

hans blickar är som

gryningens strålar.

10 Hans gap sprutar flammor,

gnistor av eld bryter fram.

11 Ur hans näsborrar stiger rök

som från en kokande gryta

på elden.

12 Hans andedräkt kan tända kol,

lågor går ut ur hans gap.

13 På hans nacke bor styrkan,

och skräcken dansar*41:13dansarAndra handskrifter (Septuaginta): "springer".

framför honom.

14 Hans hudveck är fasta,

de sitter hårt och orubbligt.

15 Hans hjärta är hårt som sten,

som den understa kvarnstenen.

16 När han reser sig bävar hjältar,

de tappar fattningen i ångest.

17 Svärdet som träffar håller inte stånd,

inte heller spjut, pil eller lans.

18 Han räknar järn som halm,

koppar som murket trä.

19 Bågskott får honom inte att fly,

för honom är slungstenar

som agnar.

20 Stridsklubban räknar han som halm,

han skrattar åt rasslet av lansar*41:20lansarAnnan översättning: "kroksablar"..

21 Hans buk är som skarpa lerskärvor,

han sätter spår i dyn

som en trösksläde.

22 Han får djupet att koka som en gryta,

han får havet att skumma

som när man kokar salva.

23 Bakom honom går ett lysande stråk,

djupet tycks få silverhår.

24 Inget på jorden är hans like,

han skapades utan fruktan.

25 Han ser på allt som är upphöjt,

han är kung över allt som är stolt.

1 Canst thou draw out leviathan with an hook? or his tongue with a cord which thou lettest down?*41.1 leviathan: probably an extinct animal of some kind*41.1 which…: Heb. which thou drownest? 2 Canst thou put an hook into his nose? or bore his jaw through with a thorn? 3 Will he make many supplications unto thee? will he speak soft words unto thee? 4 Will he make a covenant with thee? wilt thou take him for a servant for ever? 5 Wilt thou play with him as with a bird? or wilt thou bind him for thy maidens? 6 Shall the companions make a banquet of him? shall they part him among the merchants? 7 Canst thou fill his skin with barbed irons? or his head with fish spears? 8 Lay thine hand upon him, remember the battle, do no more. 9 Behold, the hope of him is in vain: shall not one be cast down even at the sight of him? 10 None is so fierce that dare stir him up: who then is able to stand before me?

11 Who hath prevented me, that I should repay him? whatsoever is under the whole heaven is mine. 12 I will not conceal his parts, nor his power, nor his comely proportion. 13 Who can discover the face of his garment? or who can come to him with his double bridle?*41.13 with: or, within 14 Who can open the doors of his face? his teeth are terrible round about. 15 His scales are his pride, shut up together as with a close seal.*41.15 scales: Heb. strong pieces of shields 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 sundered. 18 By his neesings a light doth shine, 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 goeth smoke, as out of a seething pot or caldron. 21 His breath kindleth coals, and a flame goeth out of his mouth. 22 In his neck remaineth strength, and sorrow is turned into joy before him.*41.22 is turned into joy: Heb. rejoiceth 23 The flakes of his flesh are joined together: they are firm in themselves; they cannot be moved.*41.23 flakes: Heb. fallings 24 His heart is as firm as a stone; yea, as hard as a piece of the nether millstone. 25 When he raiseth up himself, the mighty are afraid: by reason of breakings they purify themselves. 26 The sword of him that layeth at him cannot hold: the spear, the dart, nor the habergeon.*41.26 habergeon: or, breastplate 27 He esteemeth iron as straw, and brass as rotten wood. 28 The arrow cannot make him flee: slingstones are turned with him into stubble. 29 Darts are counted as stubble: he laugheth at the shaking of a spear. 30 Sharp stones are under him: he spreadeth sharp pointed things upon the mire.*41.30 Sharp stones: Heb. Sharp pieces of potsherd 31 He maketh the deep to boil like a pot: he maketh the sea like a pot of ointment. 32 He maketh a 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.*41.33 is made without fear: or, behave themselves without fear 34 He beholdeth all high things: he is a king over all the children of pride.