1Moreover Jehovah spake to Job, and said:

2Will the censurer of the Almighty contend with him? Will the reprover of God answer?

3Then Job answered Jehovah, and said:

4Behold, I am vile! what can I answer thee? I will lay my hand upon my mouth.

5Once have I spoken, but I will not speak again; Yea, twice, but I will say no more.

6Then spake Jehovah to Job out of the whirlwind, and said:

7Gird up now thy loins like a man! I will ask thee, and do thou instruct me!

8Wilt thou even disannul my right? Wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayst be righteous?

9Hast thou an arm like God's? Or canst thou thunder with thy voice like him?

10Deck thyself with grandeur and majesty, And array thyself in splendor and glory!

11Send forth the fury of thy wrath! Look upon every proud one, and abase him!

12Look upon every proud one, and bring him low; Yea, tread down the wicked in their place!

13Hide them in the dust together; Shut up their faces in darkness!

14Then, indeed, will I give thee the praise, That thine own right hand can save thee.

15Behold the river-horse, which I have made as well as thyself; He feedeth on grass like the ox.

16Behold, what strength is in his loins! And what force in the muscles of his belly!

17He bendeth his tail, like the cedar, And the sinews of his thighs are twisted together.

18His bones are pipes of brass, And his limbs are bars of iron.

19He is chief among the works of God; He that made him gave him his sword.

20For the mountains supply him with food, Where all the beasts of the field play.

21He lieth down under the lote-plants, In the covert of reeds, and in the fens.

22The lote-plants cover him with their shadow, And the willows of the brook compass him about.

23Lo! the stream overfloweth, but he starteth not; He is unmoved though Jordan rush forth even to his mouth.

24Can one take him before his eyes, Or pierce his nose with hooks?