The Word Am I

The Book of Job

World English Bible Catholic :: King James Version

- Chapter 40 -

1
Moreover the LORD answered Job,
2
“Shall he who argues contend with the Almighty? He who argues with God, let him answer it.”

Job's answer to God

3
Then Job answered the LORD,
4
Behold, I am of small account. What will I answer you? I lay my hand on my mouth.
5
I have spoken once, and I will not answer; Yes, twice, but I will proceed no further.”

God's challenge to Job

6
Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind:
7
Now brace yourself like a man. I will question you, and you will answer me.
8
Will you even annul my judgment? Will you condemn me, that you may be justified?
9
Or do you have an arm like God? Can you thunder with a voice like him?
10
Now deck yourself with excellency and dignity. Array yourself with honor and majesty.
11
Pour out the fury of your anger. Look at everyone who is proud, and bring him low.
12
Look at everyone who is proud, and humble him. Crush the wicked in their place.
13
Hide them in the dust together. Bind their faces in the hidden place.
14
Then I will also admit to you that your own right hand can save you.
15
See now behemoth, which I made as well as you. He eats grass as an ox.
16
Look now, his strength is in his thighs. His force is in the muscles of his belly.
17
He moves his tail like a cedar. The sinews of his thighs are knit together.
18
His bones are like tubes of bronze. His limbs are like bars of iron.
19
He is the chief of the ways of God. He who made him gives him his sword.
20
Surely the mountains produce food for him, where all the animals of the field play.
21
He lies under the lotus trees, in the covert of the reed, and the marsh.
22
The lotuses cover him with their shade. The willows of the brook surround him.
23
Behold, if a river overflows, he doesn’t tremble. He is confident, though the Jordan swells even to his mouth.
24
Shall any take him when he is on the watch, or pierce through his nose with a snare?
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 answer to God

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.

God's challenge to Job

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.(a)
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.(b)
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.(c)
24
He taketh it with his eyes: his nose pierceth through snares.(d)

Footnotes

(a)40:15 behemoth: probably an extinct animal of some kind
(b)40:17 He…: or, He setteth up
(c)40:23 he drinketh up: Heb. he oppresseth
(d)40:24 He…: or, Will any take him in his sight, or, bore his nose with a gin?