Behold, the hope of him is in vain: shall not one be cast down even at the sight of him?

How much will one's hope [of victory] fail him if the (mere) sight of him unmans him!

None is so fierce that dare stir him up: who then is able to stand before me?

No one would be so bold as to wake him. Who, then, would stand up against Me!

Who has a claim on me from before, that I should repay him? whatever is under the whole heaven is mine.

Who would approach Me [to serve Me and to heed My mitzvoth]? — I would [of a certainty] reward (him, for) everything under the heavens is Mine!

I will hold my peace at him; listen to his words, the report of his power, and his graceful speech.

I will not be silent [in rewarding as well] his [the tzaddik's] sons [in their father's merit], and for [his] strength [in the performance of mitzoth] and for the fervor of his prayer.

Who can uncover the face of his garment? or who can come within his double bridle?

Who would [dare approach him (the leviathan)] to reveal his outer garment [his scales]? Who would venture into the double-fold of his bit?

who can open the doors of his face? his teeth are terrible round about.

Who would open the doors of his face [(his lips)]? Around his teeth there is fear.

His scales are his pride, shut up together as with a close seal:

He exults in the strength of his scales, each sealed tightly [to its neighbor].

one is so near to another, that no air can come between them:

One touches the other. The wind does not enter between them.

they are joined one to another, they stick together, that they cannot be sundered.

One is attached to the other. They are fixed firmly together and do not come apart.

His sneezings flash forth light, and his eyes are like the eyelids of the morning.

His sneezes flash light, and his eyes are like the first light of day.

Out of his mouth go burning torches, and sparks of fire leap out.

From his mouth torches come forth. Sparks of fire escape from it.

Out of his nostrils goes smoke, as out of a seething pot and burning rushes.

From his nostrils smoke comes forth, as from a seething pot and an agmon [(a kind of pot)].

His breath kindles coals, and a flame goes out of his mouth.

His breath glows as coals and a flame goes forth from his mouth.

In his neck abides strength, and terror dances before him.

Strength resides on his throat, and his chest makes sadness rejoice.

The flakes of his flesh are joined together: they are firm upon him; they cannot be moved.

The folds of his flesh cling fast [as if] they were forged together, not to part.

His heart is as firm as a stone; yea, as hard as the nether millstone.

His heart is forged together, as a stone, forged as the lower millstone.

When he raises himself up, the mighty are afraid: by reason of the crashings they are beside themselves.

Mighty ones tremble at his grandeur. The breakers break [before him].

Though the sword reaches him, it does not avail; nor the spear, the dart, or the javelin.

The sword that confronts him will not prevail — the spear, the dart, or the javelin.

He esteems iron as straw, and brass as rotten wood:

He accounts iron [weapons] as straw and copper as rotted wood.

the arrow cannot make him flee: slingstones are turned with him into stubble:

The bowman will not drive him away. The stones of the sling turn into stubble against him.

darts are counted as stubble; he laughs at the shaking of a spear.

Catapult [projectiles] are accounted as stubble and he laughs at the shouts of the spear [hurlers].

His underparts are like sharp potsherds: he spreads himself like a threshing sledge on the mire.

Beneath him are flashes of sun [glancing off his fins], his resting place on the sand [shining like] fine gold.

He makes the deep to boil like a pot: he makes the sea like a kettle.

He boils the depths as a pot. He makes the sea like a spicery [when he moves].

After him he leaves a shining wake; one would think the deep to be hoary.

Behind him his wake is alight. He renders the depths as [frail as] a grey-beard.

Upon earth there is not his like, who is made without fear.

There is not his like upon the earth, constituted without fear.

He beholds all high things: he is a king over all the children of pride.

All that is high he sees [as beneath him]. He is king over all the sons of pride. [(How, then, can you presume to contend with Me, who has wrought all of these awesome things?)]