Job Humbles Himself before the LORD

¹ And the LORD said to Job:

² “Will the faultfinder contend with the Almighty?

Let him who argues with God give an answer.”

³ Then Job answered the LORD:

⁴ “Behold, I am insignificant. How can I reply to You?

I place my hand over my mouth.

⁵ I have spoken once, but I have no answer —

twice, but I have nothing to add.”

The LORD Challenges Job Again

⁶ Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said:

⁷ “Now brace yourself like a man;

I will question you, and you shall inform Me.

⁸ Would you really annul My justice?

Would you condemn Me to justify yourself?

⁹ Do you have an arm like God’s?

Can you thunder with a voice like His?

¹⁰ Then adorn yourself with majesty^* and splendor,^*

and clothe yourself with honor^* and glory.

¹¹ Unleash the fury of your wrath;

look on every proud man and bring him low.

¹² Look on every proud man and humble him;

trample the wicked where they stand.

¹³ Bury them together in the dust;

imprison them in the grave.

¹⁴ Then I will confess to you^*

that your own right hand can save^* you.

¹⁵ Look at Behemoth, which I made along with you.

He feeds on grass like an ox.

¹⁶ See the strength of his loins

and the power in the muscles of his belly.

¹⁷ His tail sways^* like a cedar;

the sinews of his thighs are tightly knit.

¹⁸ His bones are tubes of bronze;

his limbs are rods of iron.

¹⁹ He is the foremost of God’s works;^*

only his Maker can draw the sword against him.

²⁰ The hills yield^* him their produce,

while all the beasts of the field play nearby.

²¹ He lies under the lotus plants,

hidden among the reeds of the marsh.

²² The lotus plants conceal him in their shade;

the willows of the brook surround him.

²³ Though the river rages,^* Behemoth is unafraid;

he remains secure, though the Jordan surges to his mouth.

²⁴ Can anyone capture him as he looks on,

or pierce his nose with a snare?^*