Job 41

1Canst thou draw out leviathan with an hook? or his tongue with a cord which thou lettest down?footnote afootnote b

2Canst thou put an hook into his nose? or bore his jaw through with a thorn?

3Will he make many supplications unto thee? will he speak soft words unto thee?

4Will he make a covenant with thee? wilt thou take him for a servant for ever?

5Wilt thou play with him as with a bird? or wilt thou bind him for thy maidens?

6Shall the companions make a banquet of him? shall they part him among the merchants?

7Canst thou fill his skin with barbed irons? or his head with fish spears?

8Lay thine hand upon him, remember the battle, do no more.

9Behold, the hope of him is in vain: shall not one be cast down even at the sight of him?

10None is so fierce that dare stir him up: who then is able to stand before me?

11Who hath prevented me, that I should repay him? whatsoever is under the whole heaven is mine.

12I will not conceal his parts, nor his power, nor his comely proportion.

13Who can discover the face of his garment? or who can come to him with his double bridle?footnote c

14Who can open the doors of his face? his teeth are terrible round about.

15His scales are his pride, shut up together as with a close seal.footnote d

16One is so near to another, that no air can come between them.

17They are joined one to another, they stick together, that they cannot be sundered.

18By his neesings a light doth shine, and his eyes are like the eyelids of the morning.

19Out of his mouth go burning lamps, and sparks of fire leap out.

20Out of his nostrils goeth smoke, as out of a seething pot or caldron.

21His breath kindleth coals, and a flame goeth out of his mouth.

22In his neck remaineth strength, and sorrow is turned into joy before him.footnote e

23The flakes of his flesh are joined together: they are firm in themselves; they cannot be moved.footnote f

24His heart is as firm as a stone; yea, as hard as a piece of the nether millstone.

25When he raiseth up himself, the mighty are afraid: by reason of breakings they purify themselves.

26The sword of him that layeth at him cannot hold: the spear, the dart, nor the habergeon.footnote g

27He esteemeth iron as straw, and brass as rotten wood.

28The arrow cannot make him flee: slingstones are turned with him into stubble.

29Darts are counted as stubble: he laugheth at the shaking of a spear.

30Sharp stones are under him: he spreadeth sharp pointed things upon the mire.footnote h

31He maketh the deep to boil like a pot: he maketh the sea like a pot of ointment.

32He maketh a path to shine after him; one would think the deep to be hoary.

33Upon earth there is not his like, who is made without fear.footnote i

34He beholdeth all high things: he is a king over all the children of pride.

The LORD’s Power Shown in Leviathan

1“Can you pull in Leviathan with a hookor tie down his tongue with a rope? 2Can you put a cord through his noseor pierce his jaw with a hook? 3Will he beg you for mercyor speak to you softly? 4Will he make a covenant with youto take him as a slave for life? 5Can you pet him like a birdor put him on a leash for your maidens? 6Will traders barter for himor divide him among the merchants? 7Can you fill his hide with harpoonsor his head with fishing spears? 8If you lay a hand on him,you will remember the battle and never repeat it!

9Surely hope of overcoming him is false.Is not the sight of him overwhelming? 10No one is so fierce as to rouse Leviathan.Then who is able to stand against Me? 11Who has given to Me that I should repay him?footnote aEverything under heaven is Mine.

12I cannot keep silent about his limbs,his power and graceful form. 13Who can strip off his outer coat?Who can approach him with a bridle?footnote b 14Who can open his jaws,ringed by his fearsome teeth? 15His rows of scales are his pride,tightly sealed together. 16One scale is so near to anotherthat no air can pass between them. 17They are joined to one another;they clasp and cannot be separated.

18His snorting flashes with light,and his eyes are like the rays of dawn. 19Firebrands stream from his mouth;fiery sparks shoot forth! 20Smoke billows from his nostrilsas from a boiling pot over burning reeds. 21His breath sets coals ablaze,and flames pour from his mouth. 22Strength resides in his neck,and dismay leaps before him. 23The folds of his flesh are tightly joined;they are firm and immovable. 24His chest is as hard as a rock,as hard as a lower millstone!

25When Leviathan rises up, the mighty are terrified;they withdraw before his thrashing. 26The sword that reaches him has no effect,nor does the spear or dart or arrow. 27He regards iron as strawand bronze as rotten wood. 28No arrow can make him flee;slingstones become like chaff to him. 29A club is regarded as straw,and he laughs at the sound of the lance.footnote c 30His undersides are jagged potsherds,spreading out the mud like a threshing sledge. 31He makes the depths seethe like a cauldron;he makes the sea like a jar of ointment. 32He leaves a glistening wake behind him;one would think the deep had white hair! 33Nothing on earth is his equal—a creature devoid of fear! 34He looks down on all the haughty;he is king over all the proud.”