Job 40 (Today's New International Version)

1 The LORD said to Job:¹ 2 "Will the one who contends with the Almighty² correct him?³ Let him who accuses God answer him!"⁴ 3 Then Job answered the LORD: 4 "I am unworthy⁵--how can I reply to you? I put my hand over my mouth.⁶ 5 I spoke once, but I have no answer⁷-- twice, but I will say no more."⁸ 6 Then the LORD spoke to Job out of the storm:⁹ 7 "Prepare to defend yourself; I will question you, and you shall answer me.¹⁰ 8 "Would you discredit my justice?¹¹ Would you condemn me to justify yourself ?¹² 9 Do you have an arm like God's,¹³ and can your voice¹⁴ thunder like his?¹⁵ 10 Then adorn yourself with glory and splendor, and clothe yourself in honor and majesty.¹⁶ 11 Unleash the fury of your wrath,¹⁷ look at all who are proud and bring them low,¹⁸ 12 look at all who are proud¹⁹ and humble them,²⁰ crush²¹ the wicked where they stand. 13 Bury them all in the dust together;²² shroud their faces in the grave.²³ 14 Then I myself will admit to you that your own right hand can save you.²⁴ 15 "Look at the behemoth,^a which I made²⁵ along with you and which feeds on grass like an ox.²⁶ 16 What strength²⁷ it has in its loins, what power in the muscles of its belly!²⁸ 17 Its tail sways like a cedar; the sinews of its thighs are close-knit.²⁹ 18 Its bones are tubes of bronze, its limbs³⁰ like rods of iron.³¹ 19 It ranks first among the works of God,³² yet its Maker³³ can approach it with his sword.³⁴ 20 The hills bring it their produce,³⁵ and all the wild animals play³⁶ nearby.³⁷ 21 Under the lotus plants it lies, hidden among the reeds³⁸ in the marsh.³⁹ 22 The lotuses conceal it in their shadow; the poplars by the stream⁴⁰ surround it. 23 A raging river⁴¹ does not alarm it; it is secure, though the Jordan⁴² should surge against its mouth. 24 Can anyone capture it by the eyes, or trap it and pierce its nose?⁴³