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Listen to this chapter • 3:24

[1] “Can you draw out Leviathan with a fishhook or press down his tongue with a cord?

[2] Can you put a rope in his nose or pierce his jaw with a hook?

[3] Will he make many pleas to you? Will he speak to you soft words?

[4] Will he make a covenant with you to take him for your servant forever?

[5] Will you play with him as with a bird, or will you put him on a leash for your girls?

[6] Will traders bargain over him? Will they divide him up among the merchants?

[7] Can you fill his skin with harpoons or his head with fishing spears?

[8] Lay your hands on him; remember the battle—you will not do it again!

[9] Behold, the hope of a man is false; he is laid low even at the sight of him.

[10] No one is so fierce that he dares to stir him up. Who then is he who can stand before me?

[11] Who has first given to me, that I should repay him? Whatever is under the whole heaven is mine.

[12] “I will not keep silence concerning his limbs, or his mighty strength, or his goodly frame.

[13] Who can strip off his outer garment? Who would come near him with a bridle?

[14] Who can open the doors of his face? Around his teeth is terror.

[15] His back is made of rows of shields, shut up closely as with a seal.

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

[17] They are joined one to another; they clasp each other and cannot be separated.

[18] His sneezings flash forth light, and his eyes are like the eyelids of the dawn.

[19] Out of his mouth go flaming torches; sparks of fire leap forth.

[20] Out of his nostrils comes forth smoke, as from a boiling pot and burning rushes.

[21] His breath kindles coals, and a flame comes forth from his mouth.

[22] In his neck abides strength, and terror dances before him.

[23] The folds of his flesh stick together, firmly cast on him and immovable.

[24] His heart is hard as a stone, hard as the lower millstone.

[25] When he raises himself up the mighty are afraid; at the crashing they are beside themselves.

[26] Though the sword reaches him, it does not avail, nor the spear, the dart, or the javelin.

[27] He counts iron as straw, and bronze as rotten wood.

[28] The arrow cannot make him flee; for him sling stones are turned to stubble.

[29] Clubs are counted as stubble; he laughs at the rattle of javelins.

[30] His underparts are like sharp potsherds; he spreads himself like a threshing sledge on the mire.

[31] He makes the deep boil like a pot; he makes the sea like a pot of ointment.

[32] Behind him he leaves a shining wake; one would think the deep to be white-haired.

[33] On earth there is not his like, a creature without fear.

[34] He sees everything that is high; he is king over all the sons of pride.”

Job — Chapters