Good News Translation GNT
Revised Standard Version RSV
1 Can you catch Leviathan with a fishhook or tie his tongue down with a rope?
1
"Can you draw out Levi'athan with a fishhook, or press down his tongue with a cord?
2 Can you put a rope through his snout or put a hook through his jaws?
2
Can you put a rope in his nose, or pierce his jaw with a hook?
3 Will he beg you to let him go? Will he plead with you for mercy?
3
Will he make many supplications to you? Will he speak to you soft words?
4 Will he make an agreement with you and promise to serve you forever?
4
Will he make a covenant with you to take him for your servant for ever?
5 Will you tie him like a pet bird, like something to amuse your servant women?
5
Will you play with him as with a bird, or will you put him on leash for your maidens?
6 Will fishermen bargain over him? Will merchants cut him up to sell?
6
Will traders bargain over him? Will they divide him up among the merchants?
7 Can you fill his hide with fishing spears or pierce his head with a harpoon?
7
Can you fill his skin with harpoons, or his head with fishing spears?
8 Touch him once and you'll never try it again; you'll never forget the fight!
8
Lay hands on him; think of the battle; you will not do it again!
9 Anyone who sees Leviathan loses courage and falls to the ground.
9
Behold, the hope of a man is disappointed; he is laid low even at the sight of him.
10 When he is aroused, he is fierce; no one would dare to stand before him.
10
No one is so fierce that he dares to stir him up. Who then is he that can stand before me?
11 Who can attack him and still be safe? No one in all the world can do it.
11
Who has given to me, that I should repay him? Whatever is under the whole heaven is mine.
12 Let me tell you about Leviathan's legs and describe how great and strong he is.
12
"I will not keep silence concerning his limbs, or his mighty strength, or his goodly frame.
13 No one can tear off his outer coat or pierce the armor he wears.
13
Who can strip off his outer garment? Who can penetrate his double coat of mail?
14 Who can make him open his jaws, ringed with those terrifying teeth?
14
Who can open the doors of his face? Round about his teeth is terror.
15 His back is made of rows of shields, fastened together and hard as stone.
15
His back is made of rows of shields, shut up closely as with a seal.
16 Each one is joined so tight to the next, not even a breath can come between.
16
One is so near to another that no air can come between them.
17 They all are fastened so firmly together that nothing can ever pull them apart.
17
They are joined one to another; they clasp each other and cannot be separated.
18 Light flashes when he sneezes, and his eyes glow like the rising sun.
18
His sneezings flash forth light, and his eyes are like the eyelids of the dawn.
19 Flames blaze from his mouth, and streams of sparks fly out.
19
Out of his mouth go flaming torches; sparks of fire leap forth.
20 Smoke comes pouring out of his nose, like smoke from weeds burning under a pot.
20
Out of his nostrils comes forth smoke, as from a boiling pot and burning rushes.
21 His breath starts fires burning; flames leap out of his mouth.
21
His breath kindles coals, and a flame comes forth from his mouth.
22 His neck is so powerful that all who meet him are terrified.
22
In his neck abides strength, and terror dances before him.
23 There is not a weak spot in his skin; it is as hard and unyielding as iron.
23
The folds of his flesh cleave together, firmly cast upon him and immovable.
24 His stony heart is without fear, as unyielding and hard as a millstone.
24
His heart is hard as a stone, hard as the nether millstone.
25 When he rises up, even the strongest are frightened; they are helpless with fear.
25
When he raises himself up the mighty are afraid; at the crashing they are beside themselves.
26 There is no sword that can wound him; no spear or arrow or lance that can harm him.
26
Though the sword reaches him, it does not avail; nor the spear, the dart, or the javelin.
27 For him iron is as flimsy as straw, and bronze as soft as rotten wood.
27
He counts iron as straw, and bronze as rotten wood.
28 There is no arrow that can make him run; rocks thrown at him are like bits of straw.
28
The arrow cannot make him flee; for him slingstones are turned to stubble.
29 To him a club is a piece of straw, and he laughs when men throw spears.
29
Clubs are counted as stubble; he laughs at the rattle of javelins.
30 The scales on his belly are like jagged pieces of pottery; they tear up the muddy ground like a threshing sledge.
30
His underparts are like sharp potsherds; he spreads himself like a threshing sledge on the mire.
31 He churns up the sea like boiling water and makes it bubble like a pot of oil.
31
He makes the deep boil like a pot; he makes the sea like a pot of ointment.
32 He leaves a shining path behind him and turns the sea to white foam.
32
Behind him he leaves a shining wake; one would think the deep to be hoary.
33 There is nothing on earth to compare with him; he is a creature that has no fear.
33
Upon earth there is not his like, a creature without fear.
34 He looks down on even the proudest animals; he is king of all wild beasts.
34
He beholds everything that is high; he is king over all the sons of pride."
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.