Before Book 21 Psalms
Project Gutenberg EPUB3 edition
40:13. His bones are like pipes of brass, his gristle like plates of iron.
40:14. He is the beginning of the ways of God, who made him, he will apply his sword.
He will apply his sword... This text is variously explained: some explain the sword, the horn given to the animal for his defence: others, the power that God hath given to the animal for his defence: others, the power that God hath given to man to slay him, notwithstanding his great size and strength.
40:15. To him the mountains bring forth grass: there all the beasts of the field shall play.
40:16. He sleepeth under the shadow, in the covert of the reed, and in moist places.
40:17. The shades cover his shadow, the willows of the brook shall compass him about.
40:18. Behold, he will drink up a river, and not wonder: and he trusteth that the Jordan may run into his mouth.
40:19. In his eyes as with a hook he shall take him, and bore through his nostrils with stakes.
40:20. Canst thou draw out the leviathan with a hook, or canst thou tie his tongue with a cord?
Leviathan... The whale or some sea monster.
40:21. Canst thou put a ring in his nose, or bore through his jaw with a buckle?
40:22. Will he make many supplications to thee, or speak soft words to thee?
40:23. Will he make a covenant with thee, and wilt thou take him to be a servant for ever,
40:24. Shalt thou play with him as with a bird, or tie him up for thy handmaids?
40:25. Shall friends cut him in pieces, shall merchants divide him?
40:26. Wilt thou fill nets with his skin, and the cabins of fishes with his head?
40:27. Lay thy hand upon him: remember the battle, and speak no more.
40:28. Behold his hope shall fail him, and in the sight of all he shall be cast down.
Job Chapter 41
A further description of the leviathan.
41:1. I will not stir him up, like one that is cruel, for who can resist my countenance?
41:2. Who hath given me before that I should repay him? All things that are under heaven are mine.
41:3. I will not spare him, nor his mighty words, and framed to make supplication.
41:4. Who can discover the face of his garment? or who can go into the midst of his mouth?
41:5. Who can open the doors of his face? his teeth are terrible round about.
41:6. His body is like molten shields, shut close up with scales pressing upon one another.
41:7. One is joined to another, and not so much as any air can come between them:
41:8. They stick one to another and they hold one another fast, and shall not be separated.
41:9. His sneezing is like the shining of fire, and his eyes like the eyelids of the morning.
41:10. Out of his mouth go forth lamps, like torches of lighted fire.
41:11. Out of his nostrils goeth smoke, like that of a pot heated and boiling.
41:12. His breath kindleth coals, and a flame cometh forth out of his mouth.
41:13. In his neck strength shall dwell, and want goeth before his face.
41:14. The members of his flesh cleave one to another: he shall send lightnings against him, and they shall not be carried to another place.
41:15. His heart shall be as hard as a stone, and as firm as a smith's anvil,
41:16. When he shall raise him up, the angels shall fear, and being affrighted shall purify themselves.
Angels... Elim, Hebrew: which signifies here, the mighty, the most valiant, shall fear this monstrous fish, and in their fear shall seek to be purified.
41:17. When a sword shall lay at him, it shall not be able to hold, nor a spear, nor a breastplate.
41:18. For he shall esteem iron as straw, and brass as rotten wood.
41:19. The archer shall not put him to flight, the stones of the sling are to him like stubble.