Job, 40
Of the power of God in the behemoth and the leviathan.
[1] And the Lord answering Job out of the whirlwind, said: •
[2] Gird up thy loins like a man: I will ask thee, and do thou tell me. •
[3] Wilt thou make void my judgment: and condemn me, that thou mayst be justified? •
[4] And hast thou an arm like God, and canst thou thunder with a voice like him? •
[5] Clothe thyself with beauty, and set thyself up on high, and be glorious, and put on goodly garments.
[6] Scatter the proud in thy indignation, and behold every arrogant man, and humble him. •
[7] Look on all that are proud, and confound them, and crush the wicked in their place,
[8] Hide them in the dust together, and plunge their faces into the pit. •
[9] Then I will confess that thy right hand is able to save thee.
[10] Behold behemoth 1 whom I made with thee, he eateth grass like an ox. •
Behemoth: In Hebrew, behema, which signifies in general an animal; but many authors explain, that here it is put for the elephant.
[11] His strength is in his loins, and his force in the navel of his belly. •
[12] He setteth up his tail like a cedar, the sinews of his testicles are wrapped together. •
[13] His bones are like pipes of brass, his gristle like plates of iron. •
[14] He is the beginning of the ways of God, who made him, he will apply his sword 1. •
He will apply his sword: This text is variously explained: some explain the sword, the horn given to the animal for his defence: others, the power that God hath given to the animal for his defence: others, the power that God hath given to man to slay him, notwithstanding his great size and strength.
[15] To him the mountains bring forth grass: there all the beasts of the field shall play. •
[16] He sleepeth under the shadow, in the covert of the reed, and in moist places. •
[17] The shades cover his shadow, the willows of the brook shall compass him about.
[18] Behold, he will drink up a river, and not wonder: and he trusteth that the Jordan may run into his mouth. •
[19] In his eyes as with a hook he shall take him, and bore through his nostrils with stakes. •
[20] Canst thou draw out the leviathan 1 with a hook, or canst thou tie his tongue with a cord? •
Leviathan: The whale or some sea monster.
[21] Canst thou put a ring in his nose, or bore through his jaw with a buckle? •
[22] Will he make many supplications to thee, or speak soft words to thee? •
[23] Will he make a covenant with thee, and wilt thou take him to be a servant for ever?
[24] Shalt thou play with him as with a bird, or tie him up for thy handmaids? •
[25] Shall friends cut him in pieces, shall merchants divide him? •
[26] Wilt thou fill nets with his skin, and the cabins of fishes with his head? •
[27] Lay thy hand upon him: remember the battle, and speak no more. •
[28] Behold his hope shall fail him, and in the sight of all he shall be cast down. •