^1. THEN the LORD said to Job,

^2. «Will the faultfinder contend with the Almighty? Let him who reproves God answer it.»

^3. Then Job answered the LORD and said,

^4. «Behold, I am insignificant; what can I reply to You? I lay my hand on my mouth.

^5. «Once I have spoken, and I will not answer; Even twice, and I will add nothing more.»

^6. Then the LORD answered Job out of the storm and said,

^7. «Now gird up your loins like a man; I will ask you, and you instruct Me.

^8. «Will you really annul My judgment? Will you condemn Me that you may be justified?

^9. «Or do you have an arm like God, And can you thunder with a voice like His?

^10. « Adorn yourself with eminence and dignity, And clothe yourself with honor and majesty.

^11. «Pour out the overflowings of your anger, And look on everyone who is proud, and make him low.

^12. «Look on everyone who is proud, and humble him, And tread down the wicked [1] where they stand.

^13. « Hide them in the dust together; Bind [2] them in the hidden place.

^14. «Then I will also [3] confess to you, That your own right hand can save you.

^15. «Behold now, [5] Behemoth, which I made [4] as well as you; He eats grass like an ox.

^16. «Behold now, his strength in his loins And his power in the muscles of his belly.

^17. «He bends his tail like a cedar; The sinews of his thighs are knit together.

^18. «His bones are tubes of bronze; His [6] limbs are like bars of iron.

^19. «He is the first of the ways of God; Let his maker bring near his sword.

^20. «Surely the mountains bring him food, And all the beasts of the field play there.

^21. «Under the lotus plants he lies down, In the covert of the reeds and the marsh.

^22. «The lotus plants cover him with [7] shade; The willows of the brook surround him.

^23. «If a river [8] rages, he is not alarmed; He is confident, though the Jordan rushes to his mouth.

^24. «Can anyone capture him [10] when he is on watch, With [9] barbs can anyone pierce his nose?