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40 The Lord answered and said to Job:

“Will the person who ·argues [contends] with the Almighty correct him?
Let the person who ·accuses [reproves] God answer him.”

Then Job answered the Lord:

“I am ·not worthy [small]; I cannot answer you anything,
    so I will put my hand over my mouth [C to indicate no more talking].
I spoke one time, but I will not answer again;
    I even spoke two times, but I will ·say [add] nothing more.”

Then the Lord spoke to Job from the ·storm [whirlwind]:

“·Be strong [Brace yourself; L Gird your loins], like a man!
    I will ask you questions,
    and you must ·answer [inform] me [38:3].
Would you ·say that I am unfair [discredit my justice]?
    Would you ·blame [condemn] me to make yourself look ·right [righteous]?
·Are you [L Is your arm] as strong as God?
    Can your voice thunder like his?
10 If so, then decorate yourself with ·glory [loftiness] and ·beauty [pride];
    dress in ·honor [splendor] and ·greatness [majesty] as if they were clothing.
11 Let your great anger ·punish [L loose];
    look at the proud and bring them down.
12 Look at the proud and make them ·humble [submit].
    Crush the wicked wherever they ·are [stand].
13 ·Bury [L Hide] them all in the ·dirt [dust] together;
    ·cover [hide] their faces in the ·grave [L hidden place].
14 If you can do that, then I myself will ·praise [acknowledge] you,
    because ·you are strong enough to save yourself [L your right hand has given you the victory].

15 “Look at Behemoth, [C a large land animal or monster],
    which I made just as I made you.
    It eats grass like an ox.
16 Look at the strength it has in its ·body [L loins];
    the muscles of its stomach are powerful.
17 Its tail ·is [stiffens] like a cedar tree;
    the ·muscles [sinews] of its thighs are woven together.
18 Its bones are like tubes of bronze;
    its legs are like bars of iron.
19 It is one of the first of God’s works,
    but its Maker can ·destroy it [L approach it with a sword].
20 The hills, where the wild animals play,
    provide food for it.
21 It ·lies [lives] under the lotus plants,
    hidden by the ·tall grass in the swamp [reeds of the marsh].
22 The lotus plants ·hide [cover] it in their shadow;
    the poplar trees by the ·streams [wadis] surround it.
23 If the river ·floods [grows turbulent], it will not ·be afraid [or hurry away];
    it is ·safe [confident; secure] even if the Jordan River rushes to its mouth.
24 Can anyone ·blind its eyes and capture it [or take it with a hook]?
    Can anyone ·put hooks in its nose [pierce its nose with a snare]?

40 The Lord said to Job:(A)

“Will the one who contends with the Almighty(B) correct him?(C)
    Let him who accuses God answer him!”(D)

Then Job answered the Lord:

“I am unworthy(E)—how can I reply to you?
    I put my hand over my mouth.(F)
I spoke once, but I have no answer(G)
    twice, but I will say no more.”(H)

Then the Lord spoke to Job out of the storm:(I)

“Brace yourself like a man;
    I will question you,
    and you shall answer me.(J)

“Would you discredit my justice?(K)
    Would you condemn me to justify yourself?(L)
Do you have an arm like God’s,(M)
    and can your voice(N) thunder like his?(O)
10 Then adorn yourself with glory and splendor,
    and clothe yourself in honor and majesty.(P)
11 Unleash the fury of your wrath,(Q)
    look at all who are proud and bring them low,(R)
12 look at all who are proud(S) and humble them,(T)
    crush(U) the wicked where they stand.
13 Bury them all in the dust together;(V)
    shroud their faces in the grave.(W)
14 Then I myself will admit to you
    that your own right hand can save you.(X)

15 “Look at Behemoth,
    which I made(Y) along with you
    and which feeds on grass like an ox.(Z)
16 What strength(AA) it has in its loins,
    what power in the muscles of its belly!(AB)
17 Its tail sways like a cedar;
    the sinews of its thighs are close-knit.(AC)
18 Its bones are tubes of bronze,
    its limbs(AD) like rods of iron.(AE)
19 It ranks first among the works of God,(AF)
    yet its Maker(AG) can approach it with his sword.(AH)
20 The hills bring it their produce,(AI)
    and all the wild animals play(AJ) nearby.(AK)
21 Under the lotus plants it lies,
    hidden among the reeds(AL) in the marsh.(AM)
22 The lotuses conceal it in their shadow;
    the poplars by the stream(AN) surround it.
23 A raging river(AO) does not alarm it;
    it is secure, though the Jordan(AP) should surge against its mouth.
24 Can anyone capture it by the eyes,
    or trap it and pierce its nose?(AQ)

40 Moreover the Lord answered Job, and said,

Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? he that reproveth God, let him answer it.

Then Job answered the Lord, and said,

Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth.

Once have I spoken; but I will not answer: yea, twice; but I will proceed no further.

Then answered the Lord unto Job out of the whirlwind, and said,

Gird up thy loins now like a man: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.

Wilt thou also disannul my judgment? wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be righteous?

Hast thou an arm like God? or canst thou thunder with a voice like him?

10 Deck thyself now with majesty and excellency; and array thyself with glory and beauty.

11 Cast abroad the rage of thy wrath: and behold every one that is proud, and abase him.

12 Look on every one that is proud, and bring him low; and tread down the wicked in their place.

13 Hide them in the dust together; and bind their faces in secret.

14 Then will I also confess unto thee that thine own right hand can save thee.

15 Behold now behemoth, which I made with thee; he eateth grass as an ox.

16 Lo now, his strength is in his loins, and his force is in the navel of his belly.

17 He moveth his tail like a cedar: the sinews of his stones are wrapped together.

18 His bones are as strong pieces of brass; his bones are like bars of iron.

19 He is the chief of the ways of God: he that made him can make his sword to approach unto him.

20 Surely the mountains bring him forth food, where all the beasts of the field play.

21 He lieth under the shady trees, in the covert of the reed, and fens.

22 The shady trees cover him with their shadow; the willows of the brook compass him about.

23 Behold, he drinketh up a river, and hasteth not: he trusteth that he can draw up Jordan into his mouth.

24 He taketh it with his eyes: his nose pierceth through snares.