Job 40

NEW JERUSALEM	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Stil speaking to Job, Yahweh said:	1 The LORD then said to Job:
2 Is Yahweh's opponent going to give way? Has God's critic thought up an answer?	2 Will we have arguing with the Almighty by the critic? Let him who would correct God give answer!
3 Job replied to Yahweh:	3 Then Job answered the LORD and said:
4 My words have been frivolous: what can I reply? I had better lay my hand over my mouth.	4 Behold, I am of little account; what can I answer you? I put my hand over my mouth.
5 I have spoken once, I shal not speak again; I have spoken twice, I have nothing more to say.	5 Though I have spoken once, I will not do so again; though twice, I will do so no more.
6 Yahweh gave Job his answer from the heart of the tempest. He said:	6 Then the LORD addressed Job out of the storm and said:
7 Brace yourself like a fighter, I am going to ask the questions, and you are to inform me!	7 Gird up your loins now, like a man. I will question you, and you tell me the answers!
8 Do you real y want to reverse my judgement, put me in the wrong and yourself in the right?	8 Would you refuse to acknowledge my right? Would you condemn me that you may be justified?
9 Has your arm the strength of God's, can your voice thunder as loud?	9 Have you an arm like that of God, or can you thunder with a voice like his?
10 Come on, display your majesty and grandeur, robe yourself in splendour and glory.	10 Adorn yourself with grandeur and majesty, and array yourself with glory and splendor.
11 Let the fury of your anger burst forth, humble the haughty at a glance!	11 Let loose the fury of your wrath;
12 At a glance, bring down al the proud, strike down the wicked where they stand.	12 tear down the wicked and shatter them. Bring down the haughty with a glance;
13 Bury the lot of them in the ground, shut them, every one, in the Dungeon.	13 bury them in the dust together; in the hidden world imprison them.
14 And I shal be the first to pay you homage, since your own right hand is strong enough to save you.	14 Then will I too acknowledge that your own right hand can save you.
15 But look at Behemoth, my creature, just as you are! He feeds on greenstuff like the ox,	15 See, besides you I made Behemoth, that feeds on grass like an ox.
16 but what strength he has in his loins, what power in his stomach muscles!	16 Behold the strength in his loins, and his vigor in the sinews of his belly.
17 His tail is as stiff as a cedar, the sinews of his thighs are tightly knit.	17 He carries his tail like a cedar; the sinews of his thighs are like cables.
18 His bones are bronze tubes, his frame like forged iron.	18 His bones are like tubes of bronze; his frame is like iron rods.
19 He is the first of the works of God. His Maker threatened him with the sword,	19 He came at the beginning of God's ways, and was made the taskmaster of his fellows;
20 forbidding him the mountain regions and al the wild animals that play there.	20 For the produce of the mountains is brought to him, and of all wild animals he makes sport.
21 Under the lotus he lies, he hides among the reeds in the swamps.	21 Under the lotus trees he lies, in coverts of the reedy swamp.
22 The leaves of the lotus give him shade, the willows by the stream shelter him.	22 The lotus trees cover him with their shade; all about him are the poplars on the bank.
23 If the river overflows, he does not worry: Jordan might come up to his mouth, but he would not care.	23 If the river grows violent, he is not disturbed; he is tranquil though the torrent surges about his mouth.
24 Who is going to catch him by the eyes or put poles through his nose?	24 Who can capture him by his eyes, or pierce his nose with a trap?
25 Leviathan, too! Can you catch him with a fish-hook or hold his tongue down with a rope?	25 Can you lead about Leviathan with a hook, or curb his tongue with a bit?
26 Can you put a cane through his nostrils or pierce his jaw with a hook?	26 Can you put a rope into his nose, or pierce through his cheek with a gaff?
27 Will he plead lengthily with you, addressing you in diffident tones?	27 Will he then plead with you, time after time, or address you with tender words?
28 Will he strike a bargain with you to become your slave for life?	28 Will he make an agreement with you that you may have him as a slave forever?
29 Will you make a pet of him, like a bird, keep him on a lead to amuse your little girls?	29 Can you play with him, as with a bird? Can you put him in leash for your maidens?
30 Is he to be sold by the fishing guild and then retailed by merchants?	30 Will the traders bargain for him? Will the merchants divide him up?
31 Riddle his hide with darts? Or his head with fishing spears?	31 Can you fill his hide with barbs, or his head with fish spears?
32 You have only to lay a finger on him never to forget the struggle or risk it again!	32 Once you but lay a hand upon him, no need to recall any other conflict!