Job 40

Job 40 – New International Version (NIV)

1. The Lord said to Job:
2. “Will the one who contends with the Almighty correct him? Let him who accuses God answer him!”
3. Then Job answered the Lord:
4. “I am unworthy—how can I reply to you? I put my hand over my mouth.
5. I spoke once, but I have no answer— twice, but I will say no more.”
6. Then the Lord spoke to Job out of the storm:
7. “Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me.
8. “Would you discredit my justice? Would you condemn me to justify yourself?
9. Do you have an arm like God’s, and can your voice thunder like his?
10. Then adorn yourself with glory and splendor, and clothe yourself in honor and majesty.
11. Unleash the fury of your wrath, look at all who are proud and bring them low,
12. look at all who are proud and humble them, crush the wicked where they stand.
13. Bury them all in the dust together; shroud their faces in the grave.
14. Then I myself will admit to you that your own right hand can save you.
15. “Look at Behemoth, which I made along with you and which feeds on grass like an ox.
16. What strength it has in its loins, what power in the muscles of its belly!
17. Its tail sways like a cedar; the sinews of its thighs are close-knit.
18. Its bones are tubes of bronze, its limbs like rods of iron.
19. It ranks first among the works of God, yet its Maker can approach it with his sword.
20. The hills bring it their produce, and all the wild animals play nearby.
21. Under the lotus plants it lies, hidden among the reeds in the marsh.
22. The lotuses conceal it in their shadow; the poplars by the stream surround it.
23. A raging river does not alarm it; it is secure, though the Jordan should surge against its mouth.
24. Can anyone capture it by the eyes, or trap it and pierce its nose?

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Job 40 – King James Version (KJV)

1. Moreover the LORD answered Job, and said,
2. Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? He that reproveth God, let him answer it.

Job’s Reply

3. Then Job answered the LORD, and said,
4. Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth.
5. Once have I spoken; but I will not answer: Yea, twice; but I will proceed no further.

The Lord’s Answer

6. Then answered the LORD unto Job out of the whirlwind, and said,
7. Gird up thy loins now like a man: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.
8. Wilt thou also disannul my judgment? Wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be righteous?
9. Hast thou an arm like God? Or canst thou thunder with a voice like him?
10. Deck thyself now with majesty and excellency; And array thyself with glory and beauty.
11. Cast abroad the rage of thy wrath: And behold every one that is proud, and abase him.
12. Look on every one that is proud, and bring him low; And tread down the wicked in their place.
13. Hide them in the dust together; And bind their faces in secret.
14. Then will I also confess unto thee That thine own right hand can save thee.
15. Behold now behemoth, Which I made with thee; He eateth grass as an ox.
16. Lo now, his strength is in his loins, And his force is in the navel of his belly.
17. He moveth his tail like a cedar: The sinews of his stones are wrapped together.
18. His bones are as strong pieces of brass; His bones are like bars of iron.
19. He is the chief of the ways of God: He that made him can make his sword to approach unto him.
20. Surely the mountains bring him forth food, Where all the beasts of the field play.
21. He lieth under the shady trees, In the covert of the reed, and fens.
22. The shady trees cover him with their shadow; The willows of the brook compass him about.
23. Behold, he drinketh up a river, and hasteth not: He trusteth that he can draw up Jordan into his mouth.
24. He taketh it with his eyes: His nose pierceth through snares.