1 ARST Yahweh continued to speak to Job. He said, BSB BSB: And the LORD said to Job:
2 ARST “Do you still think I am wrong and want to keep arguing with me? If you want to keep criticizing me, then answer the questions I have asked you!” BSB BSB: “Will the faultfinder contend with the Almighty? Let him who argues with God give an answer.”
3 ARST But Job replied to Yahweh, BSB BSB: Then Job answered the LORD:
4 ARST “Now I realize how insignificant I am. I am not able to answer your questions. I will not say anything in response to them. BSB BSB: “Behold, I am insignificant. How can I reply to You? I place my hand over my mouth.
5 ARST I have already said more than I should have said. So now I will say nothing more.” BSB BSB: I have spoken once, but I have no answer—twice, but I have nothing to add.”
6 ARST Then Yahweh again spoke to Job from inside the storm. He said, BSB BSB: Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said:
7 ARST “I am going to ask you some more questions, so get ready to answer them directly. BSB BSB: “Now brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall inform Me.
8 ARST Do you still want to govern the universe instead of me? Do you still want to insist that I am doing things wrong and that you would do them right? BSB BSB: Would you really annul My justice? Would you condemn Me to justify yourself?
9 ARST Do you have the same amount of power as I do? Does your voice sound as loud as thunder, as mine does? BSB BSB: Do you have an arm like God’s? Can you thunder with a voice like His?
10 ARST If you want to govern the universe, you must show that you are dignified and noble. You must show that your character is glorious and beautiful. BSB BSB: Then adorn yourself with majesty and splendor, and clothe yourself with honor and glory.
11 ARST You must express holy wrath against the people who deserve it. You must recognize which people are being sinfully arrogant and take them out of important positions. BSB BSB: Unleash the fury of your wrath; look on every proud man and bring him low.
12 ARST Yes, you must not allow arrogant people to remain in important positions. Destroy wicked people quickly! BSB BSB: Look on every proud man and humble him; trample the wicked where they stand.
13 ARST Punish all of them by killing them. Then send them to the place where dead people go. BSB BSB: Bury them together in the dust; imprison them in the grave.
14 ARST If you did that, I would congratulate you and admit that you could save yourself by your own ability. BSB BSB: Then I will confess to you that your own right hand can save you.
15 ARST { But to show you how insignificant you really are,} I want you to think about a great animal that I created, Behemoth. I made you, and I also made it. Even though this great beast has the size and strength to hunt and kill other animals, it eats plants as oxen do. BSB BSB: Look at Behemoth, which I made along with you. He feeds on grass like an ox.
16 ARST Think about how strong the legs of Behemoth are! And the muscles in its belly are very powerful. BSB BSB: See the strength of his loins and the power in the muscles of his belly.
17 ARST Behemoth can make its tail as stiff as the branch of a cedar tree and hold it up in the air. It has very strong legs. BSB BSB: His tail sways like a cedar; the sinews of his thighs are tightly knit.
18 ARST Its thigh bones are so strong that they are like tubes made of bronze. Its legs are so strong that they are like bars made of iron. BSB BSB: His bones are tubes of bronze; his limbs are rods of iron.
19 ARST Behemoth is one of the strongest animals that I made. I gave it sharp tusks so that it could cut down plants and eat them. BSB BSB: He is the foremost of God’s works; only his Maker can draw the sword against him.
20 ARST It needs those tusks because it comes out of the river where it lives in order to eat the plants that grow nearby. But other animals do not have to be afraid of it, so those animals do not run away or hide. BSB BSB: The hills yield him their produce, while all the beasts of the field play nearby.
21 ARST Behemoth lies under the trees that grow near the river where it lives. It sometimes shelters in the tall reeds that grow in the swamps of the river. BSB BSB: He lies under the lotus plants, hidden among the reeds of the marsh.
22 ARST Behemoth stays in the shade of trees that grow near the river. It stays in the midst of the trees that grow near the water. BSB BSB: The lotus plants conceal him in their shade; the willows of the brook surround him.
23 ARST Even when the river in which it lives become strong and turbulent, this does not disturb Behemoth. It does not mind even if the level of the water in the river rises very high. BSB BSB: Though the river rages, Behemoth is unafraid; he remains secure, though the Jordan surges to his mouth.
24 ARST No one could capture Behemoth even if he could get close enough to stand right in front of it. No one can make Behemoth a tame animal. BSB BSB: Can anyone capture him as he looks on, or pierce his nose with a snare?
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.