The Message Bible MSG
King James Version KJV
1 God then confronted Job directly:
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Moreover the LORD answered Job, and said,
2 "Now what do you have to say for yourself? Are you going to haul me, the Mighty One, into court and press charges?" Job Answers God I'm Ready to Shut Up and Listen
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Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? he that reproveth God, let him answer it.
3 Job answered:
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Then Job answered the LORD, and said,
4 "I'm speechless, in awe - words fail me. I should never have opened my mouth!
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Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth.
5 I've talked too much, way too much. I'm ready to shut up and listen." God's Second Set of Questions I Want Straight Answers
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Once have I spoken; but I will not answer: yea, twice; but I will proceed no further.
6 God addressed Job next from the eye of the storm, and this is what he said:
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Then answered the LORD unto Job out of the whirlwind, and said,
7 "I have some more questions for you, and I want straight answers.
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Gird up thy loins now like a man: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.
8 "Do you presume to tell me what I'm doing wrong? Are you calling me a sinner so you can be a saint?
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Wilt thou also disannul my judgment? wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be righteous?
9 Do you have an arm like my arm? Can you shout in thunder the way I can?
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Hast thou an arm like God? or canst thou thunder with a voice like him?
10 Go ahead, show your stuff. Let's see what you're made of, what you can do.
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Deck thyself now with majesty and excellency; and array thyself with glory and beauty.
11 Unleash your outrage. Target the arrogant and lay them flat.
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Cast abroad the rage of thy wrath: and behold every one that is proud, and abase him.
12 Target the arrogant and bring them to their knees. Stop the wicked in their tracks - make mincemeat of them!
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Look on every one that is proud, and bring him low; and tread down the wicked in their place.
13 Dig a mass grave and dump them in it - faceless corpses in an unmarked grave.
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Hide them in the dust together; and bind their faces in secret.
14 I'll gladly step aside and hand things over to you - you can surely save yourself with no help from me!
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Then will I also confess unto thee that thine own right hand can save thee.
15 "Look at the land beast, Behemoth. I created him as well as you. Grazing on grass, docile as a cow -
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Behold now behemoth, which I made with thee; he eateth grass as an ox.
16 Just look at the strength of his back, the powerful muscles of his belly.
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Lo now, his strength is in his loins, and his force is in the navel of his belly.
17 His tail sways like a cedar in the wind; his huge legs are like beech trees.
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He moveth his tail like a cedar: the sinews of his stones are wrapped together.
18 His skeleton is made of steel, every bone in his body hard as steel.
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His bones are as strong pieces of brass; his bones are like bars of iron.
19 Most magnificent of all my creatures, but I still lead him around like a lamb!
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He is the chief of the ways of God: he that made him can make his sword to approach unto him.
20 The grass-covered hills serve him meals, while field mice frolic in his shadow.
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Surely the mountains bring him forth food, where all the beasts of the field play.
21 He takes afternoon naps under shade trees, cools himself in the reedy swamps,
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He lieth under the shady trees, in the covert of the reed, and fens.
22 Lazily cool in the leafy shadows as the breeze moves through the willows.
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The shady trees cover him with their shadow; the willows of the brook compass him about.
23 And when the river rages he doesn't budge, stolid and unperturbed even when the Jordan goes wild.
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Behold, he drinketh up a river, and hasteth not: he trusteth that he can draw up Jordan into his mouth.
24 But you'd never want him for a pet - you'd never be able to housebreak him!
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He taketh it with his eyes: his nose pierceth through snares.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.
The King James Version is in the public domain.