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