God's Power Shown in Creatures
1Canst thou draw out leviathan with an hook? or his tongue with a cord which thou lettest down?
2Canst thou put an hook into his nose? or bore his jaw through with a thorn?
3Will he make many supplications unto thee? will he speak soft words unto thee?
4Will he make a covenant with thee? wilt thou take him for a servant for ever?
5Wilt thou play with him as with a bird? or wilt thou bind him for thy maidens?
6Shall the companions make a banquet of him? shall they part him among the merchants?
7Canst thou fill his skin with barbed irons? or his head with fish spears?
8Lay thine hand upon him, remember the battle, do no more.
9Behold, the hope of him is in vain: shall not one be cast down even at the sight of him?
10None is so fierce that dare stir him up: who then is able to stand before me?
11Who hath prevented me, that I should repay him? whatsoever is under the whole heaven is mine.
12I will not conceal his parts, nor his power, nor his comely proportion.
13Who can discover the face of his garment? or who can come to him with his double bridle?
14Who can open the doors of his face? his teeth are terrible round about.
15His scales are his pride, shut up together as with a close seal.
16One is so near to another, that no air can come between them.
17They are joined one to another, they stick together, that they cannot be sundered.
18By his neesings a light doth shine, and his eyes are like the eyelids of the morning.
19Out of his mouth go burning lamps, and sparks of fire leap out.
20Out of his nostrils goeth smoke, as out of a seething pot or caldron.
21His breath kindleth coals, and a flame goeth out of his mouth.
22In his neck remaineth strength, and sorrow is turned into joy before him.
23The flakes of his flesh are joined together: they are firm in themselves; they cannot be moved.
24His heart is as firm as a stone; yea, as hard as a piece of the nether millstone.
25When he raiseth up himself, the mighty are afraid: by reason of breakings they purify themselves.
26The sword of him that layeth at him cannot hold: the spear, the dart, nor the habergeon.
27He esteemeth iron as straw, and brass as rotten wood.
28The arrow cannot make him flee: slingstones are turned with him into stubble.
29Darts are counted as stubble: he laugheth at the shaking of a spear.
30Sharp stones are under him: he spreadeth sharp pointed things upon the mire.
31He maketh the deep to boil like a pot: he maketh the sea like a pot of ointment.
32He maketh a path to shine after him; one would think the deep to be hoary.
33Upon earth there is not his like, who is made without fear.
34He beholdeth all high things: he is a king over all the children of pride.
King James Bible
Text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.
The LORD’s Power Shown in Leviathan
1 “Can you draw out Leviathan with a fishhook, or press down his tongue with a cord?
2 Can you put a rope into his nose, or pierce his jaw through with a hook?
3 Will he make many petitions to you, or will he speak soft words to you?
4 Will he make a covenant with you, that you should take him for a servant forever?
5 Will you play with him as with a bird? Or will you bind him for your girls?
6 Will traders barter for him? Will they part him among the merchants?
7 Can you fill his skin with barbed irons, or his head with fish spears?
8 Lay your hand on him. Remember the battle, and do so no more.
9 Behold, the hope of him is in vain. Won’t one be cast down even at the sight of him?
10 None is so fierce that he dare stir him up. Who then is he who can stand before me?
11 Who has first given to me, that I should repay him? Everything under the heavens is mine.
12 “I will not keep silence concerning his limbs, nor his mighty strength, nor his goodly frame.
13 Who can strip off his outer garment? Who shall come within his jaws?
14 Who can open the doors of his face? Around his teeth is terror.
15 Strong scales are his pride, shut up together with a close seal.
16 One is so near to another, that no air can come between them.
17 They are joined one to another. They stick together, so that they can’t be pulled apart.
18 His sneezing flashes out light. His eyes are like the eyelids of the morning.
19 Out of his mouth go burning torches. Sparks of fire leap forth.
20 Out of his nostrils a smoke goes, as of a boiling pot over a fire of reeds.
21 His breath kindles coals. A flame goes forth from his mouth.
22 There is strength in his neck. Terror dances before him.
23 The flakes of his flesh are joined together. They are firm on him. They can’t be moved.
24 His heart is as firm as a stone, yes, firm as the lower millstone.
25 When he raises himself up, the mighty are afraid. They retreat before his thrashing.
26 If one attacks him with the sword, it can’t prevail; nor the spear, the dart, nor the pointed shaft.
27 He counts iron as straw; and brass as rotten wood.
28 The arrow can’t make him flee. Sling stones are like chaff to him.
29 Clubs are counted as stubble. He laughs at the rushing of the javelin.
30 His undersides are like sharp potsherds, leaving a trail in the mud like a threshing sledge.
31 He makes the deep to boil like a pot. He makes the sea like a pot of ointment.
32 He makes a path shine after him. One would think the deep had white hair.
33 On earth there is not his equal, that is made without fear.
34 He sees everything that is high. He is king over all the sons of pride.”
The LORD’s Power Shown in Leviathan
1 “Can you pull in Leviathan with a hook
or tie down his tongue with a rope?
2 Can you put a cord through his nose
or pierce his jaw with a hook?
3 Will he beg you for mercy
or speak to you softly?
4 Will he make a covenant with you
to take him as a slave for life?
5 Can you pet him like a bird
or put him on a leash for your maidens?
6 Will traders barter for him
or divide him among the merchants?
7 Can you fill his hide with harpoons
or his head with fishing spears?
8 If you lay a hand on him,
you will remember the battle and never repeat it!
9 Surely hope of overcoming him is false.
Is not the sight of him overwhelming?
10 No one is so fierce as to rouse Leviathan.
Then who is able to stand against Me?
11 Who has given to Me that I should repay him? a
Everything under heaven is Mine.
12 I cannot keep silent about his limbs,
his power and graceful form.
13 Who can strip off his outer coat?
Who can approach him with a bridle? b
14 Who can open his jaws,
ringed by his fearsome teeth?
15 His rows of scales are his pride,
tightly sealed together.
16 One scale is so near to another
that no air can pass between them.
17 They are joined to one another;
they clasp and cannot be separated.
18 His snorting flashes with light,
and his eyes are like the rays of dawn.
19 Firebrands stream from his mouth;
fiery sparks shoot forth!
20 Smoke billows from his nostrils
as from a boiling pot over burning reeds.
21 His breath sets coals ablaze,
and flames pour from his mouth.
22 Strength resides in his neck,
and dismay leaps before him.
23 The folds of his flesh are tightly joined;
they are firm and immovable.
24 His chest is as hard as a rock,
as hard as a lower millstone!
25 When Leviathan rises up, the mighty are terrified;
they withdraw before his thrashing.
26 The sword that reaches him has no effect,
nor does the spear or dart or arrow.
27 He regards iron as straw
and bronze as rotten wood.
28 No arrow can make him flee;
slingstones become like chaff to him.
29 A club is regarded as straw,
and he laughs at the sound of the lance. c
30 His undersides are jagged potsherds,
spreading out the mud like a threshing sledge.
31 He makes the depths seethe like a cauldron;
he makes the sea like a jar of ointment.
32 He leaves a glistening wake behind him;
one would think the deep had white hair!
33 Nothing on earth is his equal—
a creature devoid of fear!
34 He looks down on all the haughty;
he is king over all the proud.”
Footnotes:
11 a Cited in Romans 11:35
13 b Or Who can come within his double mail?
29 c Or javelin
God's Power Shown in Creatures
1Dost thou draw leviathan with an angle? And with a rope thou lettest down -- his tongue?
2Dost thou put a reed in his nose? And with a thorn pierce his jaw?
3Doth he multiply unto thee supplications? Doth he speak unto thee tender things?
4Doth he make a covenant with thee? Dost thou take him for a servant age-during?
5Dost thou play with him as a bird? And dost thou bind him for thy damsels?
6(Feast upon him do companions, They divide him among the merchants!)
7Dost thou fill with barbed irons his skin? And with fish-spears his head?
8Place on him thy hand, Remember the battle -- do not add!
9Lo, the hope of him is found a liar, Also at his appearance is not one cast down?
10None so fierce that he doth awake him, And who is he before Me stationeth himself?
11Who hath brought before Me and I repay? Under the whole heavens it is mine.
12I do not keep silent concerning his parts, And the matter of might, And the grace of his arrangement.
13Who hath uncovered the face of his clothing? Within his double bridle who doth enter?
14The doors of his face who hath opened? Round about his teeth are terrible.
15A pride -- strong ones of shields, Shut up -- a close seal.
16One unto another they draw nigh, And air doth not enter between them.
17One unto another they adhere, They stick together and are not separated.
18His sneezings cause light to shine, And his eyes are as the eyelids of the dawn.
19Out of his mouth do flames go, sparks of fire escape.
20Out of his nostrils goeth forth smoke, As a blown pot and reeds.
21His breath setteth coals on fire, And a flame from his mouth goeth forth.
22In his neck lodge doth strength, And before him doth grief exult.
23The flakes of his flesh have adhered -- Firm upon him -- it is not moved.
24His heart is firm as a stone, Yea, firm as the lower piece.
25From his rising are the mighty afraid, From breakings they keep themselves free.
26The sword of his overtaker standeth not, Spear -- dart -- and lance.
27He reckoneth iron as straw, brass as rotten wood.
28The son of the bow doth not cause him to flee, Turned by him into stubble are stones of the sling.
29As stubble have darts been reckoned, And he laugheth at the shaking of a javelin.
30Under him are sharp points of clay, He spreadeth gold on the mire.
31He causeth to boil as a pot the deep, The sea he maketh as a pot of ointment.
32After him he causeth a path to shine, One thinketh the deep to be hoary.
33There is not on the earth his like, That is made without terror.
34Every high thing he doth see, He is king over all sons of pride.
