Job 40

Moreover the LORD answered Job, and said,

1Then the 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"Will the man who finds fault argue with God, who is stronger than all? Let the man who blames God answer me now."

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 not important. What can I say back to you? I will put my hand over my mouth."

NoteThe KJV says "I am vile." Here that old word means small and of little worth. It does not mean evil.

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

5"I spoke one time, but I have no answer. I spoke a second time. I will say no more."

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

6Then the LORD spoke to Job out of the whirlwind, a strong spinning storm. 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. I will ask you questions. You will tell me the answers."

Note"Gird up thy loins" was an old way to say get ready. People tied up their long robes so they could move fast.

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

8"Will you say that my way of judging is wrong? Will you blame me so you can look right?"

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

9"Is your arm as strong as God's arm? Can your voice boom like thunder, the way his does?"

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

10"Then dress yourself up like a great king. Put on honor and glory and beauty."

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

11"Let your anger pour out. 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.

12"Look at every proud person and make him humble. Step on wicked people right where they stand."

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

13"Bury them all together in the dirt. Shut them away in the grave."

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

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

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

15"Now look at Behemoth. I made him, just as I made you. He eats grass like an ox."

NoteBehemoth is the name in the old text for a huge, heavy animal. Nobody today knows for sure which animal it was.

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

16"See 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.

17"His tail sways like a tall cedar tree. The muscles in his legs are woven tight."

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

18"His 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.

19"He is the greatest of all the things God made. Only his Maker can bring a sword near him."

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

20"The hills grow food for him to eat. All the wild animals play close by."

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

21"He lies down under the shady plants. He hides among the tall reeds in the swamp."

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

22"The shady plants cover him with their shade. Willow trees by the stream grow all around him."

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

23"The river rushes hard, but he is not afraid. He stays calm even if the Jordan River rises to his mouth."

NoteThe KJV says he "drinketh up a river." The picture is of a huge animal that stays calm even when floodwater comes.

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

24"Can anyone catch him while he is watching? Can anyone hook his nose with a trap?"