1 The Lord said to Job:
2 “Will the person who argues with the Almighty correct him?Let the person who accuses God answer him.”
3 Then Job answered the Lord:
4 “I am not worthy; I cannot answer you anything,so I will put my hand over my mouth.
5 I spoke one time, but I will not answer again;I even spoke two times, but I will say nothing more.”
6 Then the Lord spoke to Job from the storm:
7 “Be strong, like a man!I will ask you questions,and you must answer me.
8 Would you say that I am unfair?Would you blame me to make yourself look right?
9 Are you as strong as God?Can your voice thunder like his?
10 If so, then decorate yourself with glory and beauty;dress in honor and greatness as if they were clothing.
11 Let your great anger punish;look at the proud and bring them down.
12 Look at the proud and make them humble.Crush the wicked wherever they are.
13 Bury them all in the dirt together;cover their faces in the grave.
14 If you can do that, then I myself will praise you,because you are strong enough to save yourself.
15 “Look at Behemoth,which I made just as I made you.It eats grass like an ox.
16 Look at the strength it has in its body;the muscles of its stomach are powerful.
17 Its tail is like a cedar tree;the muscles of its thighs are woven together.
18 Its bones are like tubes of bronze;its legs are like bars of iron.
19 It is one of the first of God’s works,but its Maker can destroy it.
20 The hills, where the wild animals play,provide food for it.
21 It lies under the lotus plants,hidden by the tall grass in the swamp.
22 The lotus plants hide it in their shadow;the poplar trees by the streams surround it.
23 If the river floods, it will not be afraid;it is safe even if the Jordan River rushes to its mouth.
24 Can anyone blind its eyes and capture it?Can anyone put hooks in its nose?