Job 40

NEW JERUSALEM	MODERN HEBREW BIBLE
1 Stil speaking to Job, Yahweh said:	1 ויען יהוה את איוב ויאמר
2 Is Yahweh's opponent going to give way? Has God's critic thought up an answer?	2 הרב עם שדי יסור מוכיח אלוה יעננה
3 Job replied to Yahweh:	3 ויען איוב את יהוה ויאמר
4 My words have been frivolous: what can I reply? I had better lay my hand over my mouth.	4 הן קלתי מה אשיבך ידי שמתי למו פי
5 I have spoken once, I shal not speak again; I have spoken twice, I have nothing more to say.	5 אחת דברתי ולא אענה ושתים ולא אוסיף
6 Yahweh gave Job his answer from the heart of the tempest. He said:	6 ויען יהוה את איוב מן סערה ויאמר
7 Brace yourself like a fighter, I am going to ask the questions, and you are to inform me!	7 אזר נא כגבר חלציך אשאלך והודיעני
8 Do you real y want to reverse my judgement, put me in the wrong and yourself in the right?	8 האף תפר משפטי תרשיעני למען תצדק
9 Has your arm the strength of God's, can your voice thunder as loud?	9 ואם זרוע כאל לך ובקול כמהו תרעם
10 Come on, display your majesty and grandeur, robe yourself in splendour and glory.	10 עדה נא גאון וגבה והוד והדר תלבש
11 Let the fury of your anger burst forth, humble the haughty at a glance!	11 הפץ עברות אפך וראה כל גאה והשפילהו
12 At a glance, bring down al the proud, strike down the wicked where they stand.	12 ראה כל גאה הכניעהו והדך רשעים תחתם
13 Bury the lot of them in the ground, shut them, every one, in the Dungeon.	13 טמנם בעפר יחד פניהם חבש בטמון
14 And I shal be the first to pay you homage, since your own right hand is strong enough to save you.	14 וגם אני אודך כי תושע לך ימינך
15 But look at Behemoth, my creature, just as you are! He feeds on greenstuff like the ox,	15 הנה נא בהמות אשר עשיתי עמך חציר כבקר יאכל
16 but what strength he has in his loins, what power in his stomach muscles!	16 הנה נא כחו במתניו ואנו בשרירי בטנו
17 His tail is as stiff as a cedar, the sinews of his thighs are tightly knit.	17 יחפץ זנבו כמו ארז גידי פחדו ישרגו
18 His bones are bronze tubes, his frame like forged iron.	18 עצמיו אפיקי נחושה גרמיו כמטיל ברזל
19 He is the first of the works of God. His Maker threatened him with the sword,	19 הוא ראשית דרכי אל העשו יגש חרבו
20 forbidding him the mountain regions and al the wild animals that play there.	20 כי בול הרים ישאו לו וכל חית השדה ישחקו שם
21 Under the lotus he lies, he hides among the reeds in the swamps.	21 תחת צאלים ישכב בסתר קנה ובצה
22 The leaves of the lotus give him shade, the willows by the stream shelter him.	22 יסכהו צאלים צללו יסבוהו ערבי נחל
23 If the river overflows, he does not worry: Jordan might come up to his mouth, but he would not care.	23 הן יעשק נהר לא יחפוז יבטח כי יגיח ירדן אל פיהו
24 Who is going to catch him by the eyes or put poles through his nose?	24 בעיניו יקחנו במוקשים ינקב אף
25 Leviathan, too! Can you catch him with a fish-hook or hold his tongue down with a rope?
26 Can you put a cane through his nostrils or pierce his jaw with a hook?
27 Will he plead lengthily with you, addressing you in diffident tones?
28 Will he strike a bargain with you to become your slave for life?
29 Will you make a pet of him, like a bird, keep him on a lead to amuse your little girls?
30 Is he to be sold by the fishing guild and then retailed by merchants?
31 Riddle his hide with darts? Or his head with fishing spears?
32 You have only to lay a finger on him never to forget the struggle or risk it again!