Then the Lord answered Iyyov, and said,

And the L rd answered Iyyov and said:

Shall a reprover contend with the Almighty? he who reproaches God, let him answer it.

Would one aggrandize himself to argue with the Almighty? One who would debate with G d — let him answer.

Then Iyyov answered the Lord, and said,

And Iyyov answered the L rd and said:

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

I have recognized my lowliness and how can I answer You?

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

I have spoken one [thing, i.e., a little], and I shall not say [more], and [to] the two [that I have spoken (viz. 13:20)] I will not add.

Then the Lord answered Iyyov out of the storm wind, and said,

And the L rd answered Iyyov from the tempest and said:

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

Gird, now, your loins like a man. I will ask you, and you answer Me.

Wilt thou also disavow my judgment? wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayst be in the right?

Would you also repudiate My justice, condemn Me because of your [(assumed)] righteousness?

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

Do you have the arm [i.e., the power] of G d, and can you thunder in a voice like His?

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

Adorn yourself now, with pride and grandeur, and clothe yourself in majesty and glory.

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

Scatter wide the fury of your wrath, and see every proud one and lower him.

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

See every proud one and humble him, and crush the wicked in their place.

Hide them in the dust together; and bind their faces in the hiding place.

Bury them together in the dust; steep their faces in hiddenness.

Then I will also confess to thee that thy own right hand can save thee.

And I, too, will acknowledge you, when your right hand is your salvation.

Behold now behemot, which I made with thee; he eats grass like an ox.

Here, now, is the behemoth [(prepared for the future)] that I made with you. He eats grass like the ox.

Lo now, his might is in his loins, and his force is in the muscles of his belly.

His power is in his loins [(i.e., his testicles are undescended)], and his strength is in the navel of his belly.

He stiffens his tail like a cedar: the sinews of his thighs are knit together.

His tail is hard as a cedar; the sinews of his testicles are knit together.

His bones are tubes of brass; his limbs are like bars of iron.

His limbs are strong as copper; his bones are a load of iron.

He is the beginning of the ways of God: let him that made him bring near his sword to him!

He is the first of the ways of G d [(the first beast created)]. His Maker [Himself] will draw His sword [(to slaughter him)].

Surely the mountains bring him forth food, where all the wild beasts play.

For the mountains bear food for him, and all the animals of the field disport themselves there [(where he feeds)].

He lies under the thorny bushes, in the cover of the reed, and fens.

Will he lie under the shade of trees? in the recess of reeds or fens?

The thorny bushes cover him with their shadow; the willows of the brook compass him about.

Can the shade of trees cover him [as] his shade? Will the willows of the stream surround him?

Behold, he drinks up a river, and hastens not: he trusts that river will thrust some food into his mouth.

He despoils the [(entire)] river [(the Euphrates) when he drinks it] and [his stomach] does not harden [(from bloating)]. He trusts the [whole] Jordan to flow into his mouth!

Shall anyone take him with his eyes open? or pierce through his nose with a snare?

With his eyes [(i.e., in his awe of Him)] He will take him [and] He will pierce his snout with snares.

Canst thou draw out livyatan with a hook? or press down his tongue with a cord?

Would you draw forth Leviathan with a fishing rod? Would you pin down his tongue with a rope?

canst thou put a hook into his nose? or bore his jaw through with a bridle ring?

Would you put a hook in his snout? Would you pierce his cheek with a lance?

will he make many supplications to thee? will he speak soft words to thee?

Will he plead profusely with you [(to be released)]? Will he speak softly to you? [— You could not even get near him!]

will he make a covenant with thee? to take him for thy servant for ever?

Will he enter into a covenant with you, that you take him as a slave forever?

wilt thou play with him as with a bird? or wilt thou bind him for thy girls?

Will you disport yourself with him as with a [little] bird and tie him to [the necks of] your young ones [for their amusement]?

will the tradesmen heap up payment for him? shall they part him among the merchants?

Will the enchanters [by their charms] fish for him [in the sea] and portion him out among the merchants?

canst thou fill his skin with barbed irons? or his head with fish spears?

Will you sate (your lust) by making huts of its skin and a fish-booth of its head?

Lay thy hand upon him! thou wilt no more think of fighting.

[Just try to] put your hands upon him and you will no longer recall your martial prowess.