Job 41

In this chapter another creature of vast bigness and strength is described, called in the Arabian language leviathan. By which we are not, in this place, to understand the whale; because that fish is not armed with such scales as the leviathan is here said to have: (ver. 15.) nor is impenetrable, as every body knows; and, to say no more, never creeps upon the earth, which is part of the description of this leviathan, (ver. 3.) Whereby we arc thcrc- * fore to understand the crocodile (to whom every part of this description exactly belongs), a creature as big again as a man of the greatest stature, and in some places • vastly greater: there. having been crocodiles seen of twenty, nay forty feet long; and in some places of “a hundred. To this fierce and untameable creature God sends Job, that he might learn more humility than to contend with his majesty, when he saw how’unable he was to stand before one of his creatures. That use he himself teaches Job to make of this description, (ver.

Job 41:1

%sANST thou draw out leviathan with a hook?, or his tongue with a cord which thou lettest down?. There is another creature also in the same river, which I would have thee consider; and behold therein the Divine power and human weakness. Canst thou catch the leviathan* as you do other fishes? Canst thou * Crocodile. let down a line, and draw him out by the tongue with a hook? Ver.’ 2. Canst thou put a hook into his nose? or bore his jaw through with a thorn?] When thou hast made a cord of the rushes of the river, canst thou put it about his nose; or strike an iron, as sharp as a thorn; into his jaw?

Job 41:3

Will he make many supplications unto thee? will he speak soft words unto thee?. Will he importune thy favour, and with many prayers beseech thee to spare him? will he sue for his liberty with submissive words, and speak thee fair to let him go?

Job 41:4

Will he make a covenant with thee? wilt thou take him for a servant for ever?. Will he enter into bonds, and make a solemn covenant with ihee, never to do thee hurt, but be thy slave, and serve thee for ever?

Job 41:5

Wilt thou play with him as with a bird? or wilt thou bind him for thy maidens?. Wilt thou adventure to play with him, as with a sparrow? or tie him by the leg-, for the sport and pastime of thy daughters?

Job 41:6

Shall the companions make a banquet of him? shall they part him among the ^merchants?. Shall the society of fishermen make a feast for joy they have taken him; and sell their share in him among the merchants?

Job 41:7

Canst thou fill his skin with barbed irons? or his head ivith fish-spears?. Where is the dart wherewith thou canst hope to penetrate his skin? or the fish-spear that is able to wound his head? •

Job 41:8

Lay thine hand upon him, remember the battle, do no more. Go, and touch him if thou darcst: the battle will be soon ended; for thou shalt not do it the second time.

Job 41:9

Behold, the hope of him is in vain: shall not one be cast down even’ at the sight of him?. Mark what I say’; he will be sorely disappointed that thinks to take him:‘ior he will be ready to sink down with fear at the very sight of him.

Job 41:10

None is so fierce that dare stir him up: who then is able to stand before me?. Though he lio asleep on the shore, there is none so hardy as to dare to awake him. Who is he then that takes upon him to contend with me? If one of my creatures be so terrible, how dangerous is it to provoke my majesty?

Job 41:11

Wlio hath prevented me, that I shoidd repay him? whatsoever is under the whole heaven is mine. And where is the man to whom I am a debtor? How caraol, that made the whole world, to be obliged to thee, or any Digitized. by Microsoft® [chap. xui. one else? Did you first begin to do me kindnesses, that I should owe you a requital?

Job 41:12

Iivill not conceal his parts, nor his power, nor Jxis comely proportion. AVhat insolence is this to dispute with me; when thou art not able to stand before this single work of my hands? None of those limbs or joints I will conceal, nor forbear to speak of his strength, and of the comely disposition of all his parts.

Job 41:13

Who can discover the face of his garment? or ivho can come to him ivith his double bridle?. And first take a view of his sealy skin, wherewith he is covered: who hath ever stripped him of that upper garment? or who dare come within his doubled snout?’

Job 41:14

Who can open the doors of his face? his teeth $re terrible round about. Who will venture to open his wide jaws, and so much as look into his mouth, in which Jiis long rows of teeth aro very dreadful?

Job 41:15

His scales are his pride, shut np together as with a close seal. The scales of his back are like the plates of a 3hield, which I have provided for his defence: every ono of them is closely compacted, and strictly sealed to the next.

Job 41:16

One is so near to another, that no air can come between them. They are knit so close, that the air, -which presses into all things else, cannot come between theni. V<jr. 17. They are joined one to another, they stick together, that they cannot J?e sundered.] They cleave one to another, they hold so fast together that no art or violence can make a separation…

Job 41:18

By his neesings a light doth shine, and his eyes are like the eyelids of the morning. When he sneezeth, as he lies gaping in the sun, the spirits break forth with such a force that they seem to sparkle: and when he riseth up out of the river, his eyes appear before the rest of his body, as the morning light before the sun.

Job 41:19

Out of his month go burning lamps, and sparks of fire leap out. The steam also which then comes out of his mouth is as vehement as if it were full of burning torches; or there were afire in him, that sends forth sparks.

Job 41:20

Out of his nostrils goeth smoke, as out of a seething-pot or caldron. Out of his nostrils goes a smoke, like the reek of a seething-pot or a boiling caldron. * Vet. 21. His breath kindleth coals, and a flame goeth out of his mouth.] His breath is so hot, though he come out of the water, that it is sufficient to kindle coals; and may be called a flame, which issues out of his mouth.

Job 41:22

In his neck remaineth strength, and sorrow is durned into joy before him. His neck is exceeding strong, as if it were the very seat of strength: sadness and terror march before him, and seize on all those that meet him.

Job 41:23

The flakes of jus flesh are joined together: they are firm in themselves; they cannot be moved. The muscles of his flesh are glued together; every one of them is compact and solid; they are not easily moved.

Job 41:24

His. heart is as firm as a stone; yea, as hard as apiece of the nether millstone. He is as far from fear as he jjs from pity: for his heart is as firm as a stone; as hard as an anvil, or a piece of the nether millstone.

Job 41:25

When he raiseth up himself, the mighty are afraid: by reason of breakings they purify themselves. But thestoutest hearts tremble when he lifts himself up above the water: they are seized with such a fright, that they are at their wits’ end, and know not which way to tufn themselves.

Job 41:26

The sword of him that layeth at him cannot hold; the spear, the dart, nor the habergeon. Though they assault him with the sword, it will do them no service; for the hardness of his skin will break it in pieces: the spear, also the dart and the javelin, are altogether as feeble, and cannot enter into him.

Job 41:27

He esteemeth iron as straw, and brass as rotten wood. All the other weapons of iron (which the wit of man can devise) he values no more than a straw; and those of brass no more than rotten wood.

Job 41:28

Tlie arrow cannot make him flee: sling-stones are turnedwith him into stubble. The arrow shot out of the strongest bow cannot make him flee: and those stones which are thrown out of a sling with so much force, move him no more than a little chaff.

Job 41:29

Darts are counted as stubble: he laugheth at the shaking of a spear. Lay at him with heavy clubs, and ho regards them no more than if they were stubble: shake the.lance at him, and he contemns its most violent thrusts.

Job 41:30

Slutrp stones are under him: he spreadeth sharp pointed things upon the mire. For instead of him it meets only with the rough shells wherewith he is armed; which are so hard, that he beats back the sharpest weapon, and throws it into the mire.

Job 41:31

He maketh the deep to boil like a pot; he maketh the sea like a pot of ointment. When he tumbles about in the bottom, of the river, he raises bubbles pn the top; and the water of the lake is so troubled with the slimy mud which he stirreth up, that it looks like a pot of ointment.

Job 41:32

He maketh a path to shine after him; one would think the deep. to be hoary. When he swims, he makes furrows in the face of the deep; and leaves a path behind him so covered with a froth and foam, that it looks as if it were grown old, and were full of gray hairs. „

Job 41:33

Upon earth there is not his like, who is made.without fear. His fellow is not to be found upon the earth; where he creeps.indeed in the dust, but is so made that he cannot be trodden under foot and bruised.

Job 41:34

He beholdeth all high things: he is a king over all the children of pride. No, though he. lie so low, yet he despises the tallest beast; and reigns over the oxen and camels, and all those creatures whose long legs raise them to the loftiest height; whom he masters and rends in pieces at his pleasure.