1And the Lord said to Job: (Job 38:1)2“Shall a faultfinder contend with the Almighty? He who argues with God, let him answer it.” (Job 33:13)
Job Promises Silence
3Then Job answered the Lord and said:4“Behold, I am of small account; what shall I answer you? I lay my hand on my mouth. (Jud 18:19; Ezr 9:6; Job 21:5; Job 29:9; Job 42:6)5I have spoken once, and I will not answer; twice, but I will proceed no further.” (Job 33:14; Ps 62:11)
The Lord Challenges Job
6Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind and said: (Job 38:1)7“Dress for action[1] like a man; I will question you, and you make it known to me. (Job 38:3; Job 42:4)8Will you even put me in the wrong? Will you condemn me that you may be in the right? (Job 32:2)9Have you an arm like God, and can you thunder with a voice like his? (Job 37:4; Ps 89:13; Isa 63:12)10“Adorn yourself with majesty and dignity; clothe yourself with glory and splendor. (Ps 93:1; Ps 104:1)11Pour out the overflowings of your anger, and look on everyone who is proud and abase him. (Isa 2:11; Da 4:37)12Look on everyone who is proud and bring him low and tread down the wicked where they stand. (Job 36:20; Isa 63:3)13Hide them all in the dust together; bind their faces in the world below.[2] (Job 21:26; Isa 2:10)14Then will I also acknowledge to you that your own right hand can save you. (Ps 98:1; Isa 59:16; Isa 63:5)15“Behold, Behemoth,[3] which I made as I made you; he eats grass like an ox. (Nu 22:4)16Behold, his strength in his loins, and his power in the muscles of his belly.17He makes his tail stiff like a cedar; the sinews of his thighs are knit together.18His bones are tubes of bronze, his limbs like bars of iron.19“He is the first of the works[4] of God; let him who made him bring near his sword! (Job 26:14; Pr 8:22)20For the mountains yield food for him where all the wild beasts play.21Under the lotus plants he lies, in the shelter of the reeds and in the marsh. (Ps 68:30)22For his shade the lotus trees cover him; the willows of the brook surround him.23Behold, if the river is turbulent he is not frightened; he is confident though Jordan rushes against his mouth.24Can one take him by his eyes,[5] or pierce his nose with a snare?