Job 40

_1-2I am the LORD All-Powerful,

but you have argued

that I am wrong.

Now you must answer me.

₃Job said to the LORD:

₄Who am I to answer you?

₅I did speak once or twice,

but never again.

₆Then out of the storm

the LORD said to Job:

₇Face me and answer

the questions I ask!

₈Are you trying to prove

that you are innocent

by accusing me of injustice?

₉Do you have a powerful arm

and a thundering voice

that compare with mine?

₁₀If so, then surround yourself

with glory and majesty.

_11-12Show your furious anger!

Throw down and crush

all who are proud and evil.

₁₃Wrap them in grave clothes

and bury them together

in the dusty soil.

₁₄Do this, and I will agree

that you have won

this argument.

₁₅I created both you

and the hippopotamus.

It eats only grass like an ox,

₁₆but look at the mighty muscles

in its body ₁₇and legs.

Its tail is like a cedar tree,

and its thighs are thick.

₁₈The bones in its legs

are like bronze or iron.

₁₉I made it more powerful

than any other creature,

yet I am stronger still.

₂₀Undisturbed, it eats grass

while the other animals

play nearby.

_21-22It rests in the shade of trees

along the river bank

or hides among reeds

in the swamp.

₂₃It remains calm and unafraid

with the River Jordan rushing

and splashing in its face.

₂₄There is no way to capture

a hippopotamus—

not even by hooking its nose

or blinding its eyes.