1 And the Lord God answered Job, and said, 2 Will any one pervert judgment with the Mighty One? and he that reproves God, let him return it for answer. 3 And Job answered and said to the Lord, 4 Why do I yet plead? being rebuked even while reproving the Lord: hearing such things, whereas I am nothing: and what shall I answer to these arguments? I will lay my hand upon my mouth. 5 I have spoken once; but I will not do so a second time. 6 And the Lord yet again answered and spoke to Job out of the cloud, saying, 7 No, secure your clothing at your waist now like a man; and I will ask you, and answer me.⁠a 8 Do not set aside my judgment: and do you think that I have dealt with you in any other way, than that you might appear to be righteous? 9 Have you an arm like the Lord's? or do you thunder with a voice like his? 10 Assume now a lofty bearing and power; and clothe yourself with glory and honor. 11 And send forth messengers with fierce anger; and lay low every haughty one. 12 Bring down also the proud man; and consume at once the ungodly. 13 And hide them together in the earth outside; and fill their faces with shame. 14 Then I will confess that your right hand can save you. 15 But now look at the wild beasts with you; they eat grass like oxen. 16 Look now, his strength is in his lower back, and his force is in the navel of his belly. 17 He sets up his tail like a cypress; and his nerves are wrapped together. 18 His sides are sides of brass; and his backbone is as cast iron. 19 This is the chief of the creation of the Lord; made to be played with by his angels. 20 And when he has gone up to a steep mountain, he causes joy to the quadrupeds in Tartarus.⁠b 21 He lies under trees of every kind, by the papyrus, and reed, and bulrush. 22 And the great trees make a shadow over him with their branches, and so do the bushes of the field. 23 If there should be a flood, he will not perceive it; he trusts that Jordan will rush up into his mouth. 24 Yet one shall take him in his sight; one shall catch him with a cord, and pierce his nose. 25 But will you catch the serpent with a hook, and put a halter about his nose? 26 Or will you fasten a ring in his nostril, and bore his lip with a clasp? 27 Will he address you with a petition? softly, with the voice of someone pleading? 28 And will he make a covenant with you? and will you take him for a perpetual servant? 29 And will you play with him as with a bird? or bind him as a sparrow for a child? 30 And do the nations feed upon him, and the nations of the Phoenicians share him? 31 And all the ships come together would not be able to bear the mere skin of his tail; neither shall they carry his head in fishing vessels. 32 But you shall lay your hand upon him once, remembering the war that is waged in his body; and let it not be done any more.