2“Shall a faultfinder contend with the Almighty?n

Anyone who argues with God must respond.”*

4“See, I am of small account; what shall I answer you?

I lay my hand on my mouth.*

5I have spoken once, and I will not answer,

twice but will proceed no further.”*

7“Gird up your loins like a man;

I will question you, and you declare to me.*

8Will you even put me in the wrong?

Will you condemn me that you may be justified?*

9Have you an arm like God,

and can you thunder with a voice like his?*

10“Deck yourself with majesty and dignity;

clothe yourself with glory and splendor.*

11Pour out the overflowings of your anger,

and look on all who are proud and humble them.*

12Look on all who are proud and bring them low;

tread down the wicked where they stand.*

13Hide them all in the dust together;

bind their faces in the world below.o

14Then I will also acknowledge to you

that your own right hand can give you victory.*

15“Look at Behemoth,

which I made just as I made you;

it eats grass like an ox.*

16Its strength is in its loins

and its power in the muscles of its belly.

17It makes its tail stiff like a cedar;

the sinews of its thighs are knit together.

18Its bones are tubes of bronze,

its limbs like bars of iron.

19“It is the first of the great acts of God;

only its Maker can approach it with the sword.*

20For the mountains yield food for it

where all the wild animals play.*

21Under the lotus plants it lies,

in the covert of the reeds and in the marsh.

22The lotus trees cover it for shade;

the willows of the wadi surround it.*

23Even if the river is turbulent, it is not frightened;

it is confident though Jordan rushes against its mouth.

24Can one take it with hooksp

or pierce its nose with a snare?*