God’s Power and Wisdom
1 Moreover the Lord answered Job, and said:
1 Moreover the Lord answered Job, and said:
2 “Shall the one who contends with the Almighty correct Him?
He who rebukes God, let him answer it.”
He who rebukes God, let him answer it.”
Job’s Response to God
3 Then Job answered the Lord and said:
3 Then Job answered the Lord and said:
4 “Behold, I am vile;
What shall I answer You?
I lay my hand over my mouth.
What shall I answer You?
I lay my hand over my mouth.
5 Once I have spoken, but I will not answer;
Yes, twice, but I will proceed no further.”
Yes, twice, but I will proceed no further.”
God’s Challenge to Job
6 Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said:
6 Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said:
7 “Now [a]prepare yourself like a man;
I will question you, and you shall answer Me:
I will question you, and you shall answer Me:
8 “Would you indeed [b]annul My judgment?
Would you condemn Me that you may be justified?
Would you condemn Me that you may be justified?
9 Have you an arm like God?
Or can you thunder with a voice like His?
Or can you thunder with a voice like His?
10 Then adorn yourself with majesty and splendor,
And array yourself with glory and beauty.
And array yourself with glory and beauty.
11 Disperse the rage of your wrath;
Look on everyone who is proud, and humble him.
Look on everyone who is proud, and humble him.
12 Look on everyone who is proud, and bring him low;
Tread down the wicked in their place.
Tread down the wicked in their place.
13 Hide them in the dust together,
Bind their faces in hidden darkness.
Bind their faces in hidden darkness.
14 Then I will also confess to you
That your own right hand can save you.
That your own right hand can save you.
15 “Look now at the [c]behemoth, which I made along with you;
He eats grass like an ox.
He eats grass like an ox.
16 See now, his strength is in his hips,
And his power is in his stomach muscles.
And his power is in his stomach muscles.
17 He moves his tail like a cedar;
The sinews of his thighs are tightly knit.
The sinews of his thighs are tightly knit.
18 His bones are like beams of bronze,
His ribs like bars of iron.
His ribs like bars of iron.
19 He is the first of the ways of God;
Only He who made him can bring near His sword.
Only He who made him can bring near His sword.
20 Surely the mountains yield food for him,
And all the beasts of the field play there.
And all the beasts of the field play there.
21 He lies under the lotus trees,
In a covert of reeds and marsh.
In a covert of reeds and marsh.
22 The lotus trees cover him with their shade;
The willows by the brook surround him.
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,
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.
Or one pierces his nose with a snare.