Job

Moreover the LORD answered Job, and said,

1The LORD spoke to Job again. He said:

2Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? he that reproveth God, let him answer it.

2"Should the person who argues with the Almighty correct him? Let the one who accuses God answer me."

3Then Job answered the LORD, and said,

3Then Job answered the LORD. He said:

4Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth.

4"Look, I am small and unimportant. What can I say back to you? I put my hand over my mouth.

Note"I am vile" in the KJV does not mean "I am disgusting" here. The word means small, of no account, too light to matter.

5Once have I spoken; but I will not answer: yea, twice; but I will proceed no further.

5I have spoken once, and I have no answer. I spoke twice, and I will say no more."

6Then answered the LORD unto Job out of the whirlwind, and said,

6Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind. He said:

7Gird up thy loins now like a man: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.

7"Get ready now, like a man getting ready for hard work. I will ask you questions, and you will tell me the answers.

8Wilt thou also disannul my judgment? wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be righteous?

8Will you really say my justice is worthless? Will you call me guilty so you can look innocent?

9Hast thou an arm like God? or canst thou thunder with a voice like him?

9Do you have an arm as strong as God's arm? Can your voice thunder like his?

10Deck thyself now with majesty and excellency; and array thyself with glory and beauty.

10Then dress yourself up in greatness and honor. Put on glory and beauty like clothes.

11Cast abroad the rage of thy wrath: and behold every one that is proud, and abase him.

11Pour out your burning anger. Look at every proud person and bring him down low.

12Look on every one that is proud, and bring him low; and tread down the wicked in their place.

12Look at every proud person and humble him. Crush the wicked right where they stand.

13Hide them in the dust together; and bind their faces in secret.

13Bury them all together in the dust. Shut them away in the grave, out of sight.

14Then will I also confess unto thee that thine own right hand can save thee.

14If you can do that, then even I will admit that your own hand can save you.

15Behold now behemoth, which I made with thee; he eateth grass as an ox.

15Look at Behemoth, the huge beast I made, just as I made you. He eats grass like an ox.

NoteBehemoth is a Hebrew word the KJV keeps as a name. It means something like "huge beast." The chapter describes it rather than naming an animal we can be sure of today.

16Lo now, his strength is in his loins, and his force is in the navel of his belly.

16See how strong his hips are. See the power in the muscles of his belly.

17He moveth his tail like a cedar: the sinews of his stones are wrapped together.

17His tail sways stiff and thick like a cedar tree. The cords of muscle in his thighs are woven tight.

18His bones are as strong pieces of brass; his bones are like bars of iron.

18His bones are like tubes of bronze. His legs are like bars of iron.

19He is the chief of the ways of God: he that made him can make his sword to approach unto him.

19He is the first and greatest of the works God made. Only the One who made him can bring a sword near him.

20Surely the mountains bring him forth food, where all the beasts of the field play.

20The hills give him the food he eats, while all the wild animals play nearby.

21He lieth under the shady trees, in the covert of the reed, and fens.

21He lies down under the shady plants, hidden among the tall reeds in the swamp.

22The shady trees cover him with their shadow; the willows of the brook compass him about.

22The shady plants cover him with their shade. Willow trees along the stream stand all around him.

23Behold, he drinketh up a river, and hasteth not: he trusteth that he can draw up Jordan into his mouth.

23Look, the river rushes, but he is not worried. He stays calm even if the Jordan River rises to his mouth.

24He taketh it with his eyes: his nose pierceth through snares.

24Can anyone catch him while he watches them come? Can anyone hook a trap through his nose?

NoteThe KJV reads like a statement about the beast catching things, but the Hebrew is a question about people trying to catch him, and the answer is no.