Job 40
Expanded Bible
40 The Lord answered and said to Job:
2 “Will the person who ·argues [contends] with the Almighty correct him?
Let the person who ·accuses [reproves] God answer him.”
3 Then Job answered the Lord:
4 “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].
5 I spoke one time, but I will not answer again;
I even spoke two times, but I will ·say [add] nothing more.”
6 Then the Lord spoke to Job from the ·storm [whirlwind]:
7 “·Be strong [Brace yourself; L Gird your loins], like a man!
I will ask you questions,
and you must ·answer [inform] me [38:3].
8 Would you ·say that I am unfair [discredit my justice]?
Would you ·blame [condemn] me to make yourself look ·right [righteous]?
9 ·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]?
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