Job 40

Thomson^{(i) 1} Then the Lord God addressing Job, said, ² 1 Doth he decline a trial with the Almighty? Surely he who commenceth a suit against God, should support it. ³ Whereupon Job, in reply, said to the Lord, ⁴ Why should I continue the debate any further? I stand corrected for commencing a suit against the Lord. On hearing such things, what answer can I, who am nothing, make to Thee? I will lay my hand on my mouth. ⁵ Once I have spoken, but I will not proceed a second time. I heard of Thee before, with the hearing of the ear; but now mine eye hath seen Thee, therefore I abhor myself, and am ready to drop into dissolution, and account myself as dust and ashes. ⁶ Whereupon the Lord further said to Job from the cloud: ⁷ No, but gird now up thy loins like a man, and let Me question thee; and do thou answer Me. ⁸ Decline not the trial with Me. Dost thou think that I have spoken to thee for any other purpose, but that thou mayst appear justified? ⁹ Hast thou an arm to contend against the Lord, or dost thou thunder with a voice against Him? ¹⁰ Assume then majesty and power, and array thyself with glory and excellence; ¹¹ and send forth angels in wrath, and humble everyone who is insolent. ¹² Extinguish also the haughty, and turn the wicked into instant corruption. ¹³ Hide them in the earth together, and cover their faces with dishonour. ¹⁴ Then will I confess that thine own right hand can save thee. ¹⁵ But behold now the wild beasts around thee, which feed upon grass like cattle; ¹⁶ behold that one in particular whose strength is in his loins, and whose power is in the navel of his belly. ¹⁷ He hath raised his tail like a cypress, and his sinews are plaited together. ¹⁸ His ribs are ribs of brass, and his back bone is molten iron; ¹⁹ he is a chief of the Lord's fashioning, made to be insulted by his angels only. ²⁰ When he went up to the craggy mountain, he gave joy to the four footed beasts in the vale. ²¹ They go to rest under trees of every sort, by the papyrus, the reed and the bulrush: ²² But by him large trees with branches, and the bushes of the field are overshadowed. ²³ Should there come a flood he would not regard it; he is confident the Jordan can roll into his mouth. ²⁴ Can one look steadily at him, can one craftily bore his nose?