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1Then the Lord answered Job:
2“Will the one who contends with the Almighty correct him?[#tn The form רֹב (rov) is the infinitive absolute from the verb רִיב (riv, “contend”). Dhorme wishes to repoint it to make it the active participle, the “one who argues with the Almighty.”; #tn The verb יִסּוֹר (yissor) is found only here, but comes from a common root meaning “to correct; to reprove.” Several suggestions have been made to improve on the MT. Dhorme read it יָסוּר (yasur) in the sense of “to turn aside; to yield.” Ehrlich read this emendation as “to come to an end.” But the MT could be read as “to correct; to instruct.”]
Let the person who accuses God give him an answer!”
3Then Job answered the Lord :
4“Indeed, I am completely unworthy – how could I reply to you?[#tn The word קַלֹּתִי (qalloti) means “to be light; to be of small account; to be unimportant.” From this comes the meaning “contemptible,” which in the causative stem would mean “to treat with contempt; to curse.” Dhorme tries to make the sentence a conditional clause and suggests this meaning: “If I have been thoughtless.” There is really no “if” in Job’s mind.]
I put my hand over my mouth to silence myself.
5I have spoken once, but I cannot answer;
twice, but I will say no more.”
6Then the Lord answered Job from the whirlwind:
7“Get ready for a difficult task like a man.[#tn See note on “task” in 38:3.]
I will question you and you will inform me!
8Would you indeed annul my justice?[#tn The verb פָּרַר (parar) means “to annul; to break; to frustrate.” It was one thing for Job to claim his own integrity, but it was another matter altogether to nullify God’s righteousness in the process.]
Would you declare me guilty so that you might be right?
9Do you have an arm as powerful as God’s,[#tn Heb “do you have an arm like God?” The words “as powerful as” have been supplied in the translation to clarify the metaphor.]
and can you thunder with a voice like his?
10Adorn yourself, then, with majesty and excellency,
and clothe yourself with glory and honor!
11Scatter abroad the abundance of your anger.[#tn The verb was used for scattering lightning (Job 37:11). God is challenging Job to unleash his power and judge wickedness in the world.; #tn Heb “the overflowings.”]
Look at every proud man and bring him low;
12Look at every proud man and abase him;
crush the wicked on the spot!
13Hide them in the dust together,[#tn The word “dust” can mean “ground” here, or more likely, “grave.”]
imprison them in the grave.
14Then I myself will acknowledge to you[#tn The verb is usually translated “praise,” but with the sense of a public declaration or acknowledgment. It is from יָדָה (yadah, in the Hiphil, as here, “give thanks, laud”).]
that your own right hand can save you.
15“Look now at Behemoth, which I made as I made you;[#sn By form the word is the feminine plural of the Hebrew word for “beast.” Here it is an abstract word – a title.; #tn Heb “with you.” The meaning could be temporal (“when I made you”) – perhaps a reference to the sixth day of creation (Gen 1:24).]
it eats grass like the ox.
16Look at its strength in its loins,[#tn In both of these verses הִנֶּה (hinneh, “behold”) has the deictic force (the word is from Greek δείκνυμι, deiknumi, “to show”). It calls attention to something by pointing it out. The expression goes with the sudden look, the raised eye, the pointing hand – “O look!”]
and its power in the muscles of its belly.
17It makes its tail stiff like a cedar,[#tn The verb חָפַץ (khafats) occurs only here. It may have the meaning “to make stiff; to make taut” (Arabic). The LXX and the Syriac versions support this with “erects.” But there is another Arabic word that could be cognate, meaning “arch, bend.” This would give the idea of the tail swaying. The other reading seems to make better sense here. However, “stiff” presents a serious problem with the view that the animal is the hippopotamus.]
the sinews of its thighs are tightly wound.
18Its bones are tubes of bronze,
its limbs like bars of iron.
19It ranks first among the works of God,[#tn Heb “the ways of God.”sn This may be a reference to Gen 1:24, where the first of the animal creation was the cattle – bÿhemah (בְּהֵמָה).]
the One who made it
has furnished it with a sword.
20For the hills bring it food,[#tn The word בּוּל (bul) probably refers to food. Many take it as an abbreviated form of יְבוּל (yÿvul, “produce of the field”). The vegetation that is produced on the low hills is what is meant.]
where all the wild animals play.
21Under the lotus trees it lies,
in the secrecy of the reeds and the marsh.
22The lotus trees conceal it in their shadow;[#tn The suffix is singular, but must refer to the trees’ shade.]
the poplars by the stream conceal it.
23If the river rages, it is not disturbed,[#tn The word ordinarily means “to oppress.” So many commentators have proposed suitable changes: “overflows” (Beer), “gushes” (Duhm), “swells violently” (Dhorme, from a word that means “be strong”).]
it is secure, though the Jordan
should surge up to its mouth.
24Can anyone catch it by its eyes,[#tn The idea would be either (1) catch it while it is watching, or (2) in some way disabling its eyes before the attack. But others change the reading; Ball suggested “with hooks” and this has been adopted by some modern English versions (e.g., NRSV).]
or pierce its nose with a snare?